NCAA News Wire
Wichita State 57, Loyola-Chicago 45
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Forward Cleanthony Early scored a game-high 23 points as No. 4 Wichita State beat Loyola (Chicago) 57-45 Tuesday at Koch Arena in Wichita, Kan., to maintain sole possession of the Missouri Valley Conference lead.
It was the Ramblers’ inaugural MVC game against the Shockers (22-0, 9-0) and the teams’ first meeting since a 75-59 Wichita State win on Dec. 28, 1989.
Freshman guard Milton Doyle scored 16 points to lead Loyola (8-13, 3-6) which has lost three of its last four.
Guards Ron Baker and Tekele Cotton each had seven points for the Shockers, who are off to their best start and longest winning streak in school history.
Wichita State never trailed. Early collected 11 first-half points, and the Shockers scored 14 unanswered points late in the first half on the way to a 36-18 lead at the break.
The hosts led by as many as 22 points early in the second half after Anthony’s 3-pointer opened a 42-20 advantage with 17:05 to go. The Ramblers chipped away at the deficit and managed to cut the margin to nine on Doyle’s free throw with 2:27 to play.
Loyola got no closer, as Anthony pushed the lead back to double-digits with two free throws and forward Darius Carter added a dunk for a 14-point margin inside the final minute.
Loyola, which fell to 0-7 all-time in Wichita, last beat the Shockers 93-92 in overtime on Jan. 29, 1965, at the old Chicago Stadium. The Ramblers fell to 0-9 in road games this season.
Both teams resume MVC play Saturday. Wichita State hosts Evansville, while Loyola travels to Southern Illinois.
