The Loyola men’s basketball team (9-5, 1-0) opened up Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play with a gut-wrenching 66-63 win over Valparaiso University Monday night.
Loyola led since the 10-minute mark in the first half — with its biggest lead stretching to 14 points — but the Crusaders came back and made the last 10 minutes of the game closer than Rambler fans would have liked.
Valparaiso first-year forward Donovan Clay led with 21 points on a perfect 8-for-8 shooting — including 4-for-4 from three-point territory — to chip away at Loyola’s lead. Despite shooting 50 percent from the free throw line, Loyola junior guard Keith Clemons sealed the deal for the Ramblers at the charity stripe.