Despite spotting Toledo a 19-0 run, Loyola still stood a chance in the final minutes of Tuesday’s meeting. The Ramblers trailed 69-67 entering the final minute, but Jonathan Williams drained a dagger 3-pointer with 42 seconds left, allowing the Rockets to earn a 74-70 victory and end the Ramblers’ five-game winning streak.
Loyola (10-3) trailed 27-11 in the first half after giving up 19 straight points but battled back to trail by 11 at halftime. The Ramblers still trailed by double figures late in the second half, but a fast break layup by junior guard Ben Richardson ignited an 8-0 spurt to bring them within 60-56.
Toledo (6-6) recovered, but another Loyola burst led by senior guard Milton Doyle and junior wing Donte Ingram closed the gap to 69-67.
Williams’ 3-pointer occurred after Toledo ran the shot clock down twice thanks to an offensive rebound. The shot rattled in, out and back in again.
Doyle missed a layup on Loyola’s ensuing possession, and the Ramblers could not capitalize as Toledo forward Steve Taylor Jr., a Chicago native and Simeon alum, missed the front end of a one-and-one. Sophomore guard Clayton Custer missed a contested jumper and two free throws by Toledo’s Jaelan Sanford put the game away at 74-67 with 14 seconds left.
Ingram drained a buzzer-beater 3-pointer from the nearly the same spot where he hit his buzzer-beater Saturday against UIC to force overtime. This time, however, the trey did nothing but make the score look a little prettier.
Ingram scored 10 points in the second half to finish with 14 while junior forward Aundre Jackson led Loyola with 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting. Custer (13 points) and Doyle (11 points) also reached double figures.
Williams led Toledo with 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting while three teammates scored in double digits.
