After nearly relinquishing a 14-point second-half lead, the Loyola men’s basketball team (16-7, 8-4) held on for a 70-68 victory over Valparaiso University at Gentile Arena Sunday afternoon.
The Ramblers were up 66-52 with 7:54 left in the game, but Valparaiso opened up a 16-3 run to cut the Loyola lead to 69-68 with 40 seconds left. Loyola junior center Cameron Krutwig was fouled with 10.9 seconds remaining and went to the free throw line for two shots. He made the first one, but missed the second one out of a Valparaiso timeout.
As Valparaiso sophomore guard Javon Freeman-Liberty brought the ball up the court, Loyola first-year guard Marquise Kennedy risked a foul and knocked the ball away.