UIC Routs St. Francis 96-47 Behind Lowery's 20, and Loyola Cruises Past The Citadel 77-52
Two Chicago home openers, two routs: the Flames led by 20 at halftime at Credit Union 1 Arena, and the Ramblers opened on a 12-0 run at Gentile Arena and owned the glass all night.
Chicago's other two home openers on Monday night were not close. UIC beat Saint Francis of Illinois 96-47 at Credit Union 1 Arena, and Loyola Chicago beat The Citadel 77-52 at Gentile Arena, giving the city a clean sweep of its opening-night home games alongside Northwestern's win in Evanston.
In the UIC game, Mekhi Lowery scored 20 points — 16 of them in the first half — with seven rebounds and four steals, the Associated Press reported. The Flames took the lead for good with 19:33 left in the first half, led 51-31 at the break, and stretched the margin to 96-44 during a 19-2 second-half run. Bryce Tillery led Saint Francis with 12 points and two steals. It was the season opener for both teams, and UIC's homestand continues Friday against Robert Morris.
At Gentile Arena, Loyola opened its season on a 12-0 run and finished with four players in double figures, including two double-doubles: Jason Schofield's 10 points and 12 rebounds — the third double-double of his career — and Guillaume Grotzinger's 10 points and 11 assists. The Ramblers outrebounded The Citadel 43-26, held a 22-10 edge on the offensive glass, and dominated the paint 44-14 and second-chance points 18-6. The Citadel twice cut the lead to 12 before the nine-minute mark of the second half and got no closer; Loyola's lead reached 27 with 1:33 to play.
Loyola, 1-0, stays home for its next game, hosting West Georgia on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT. UIC is also 1-0, with Robert Morris visiting on Friday.
