On December 9, 2000, the Loyola Ramblers hooked up with then defending national champions, Michigan State.  The #2 Spartans cruised easily past the Ramblers by the score of 103-71.

That was the last time that Loyola took on a nationally ranked opponent at the Gentile Center.  The game drew a record attendance of 5,513.

4,723 fans turned out Thursday night to watch Loyola University take on its first ranked opponent since and weren't disappointed.  The Butler University Bulldogs narrowly escaped Rogers Park with a 70-66 overtime win.

This one had all the makings of an upset.  One of the hardest Horizon League venues in which to win, the Gentile Center was rocking as the Ramblers put together arguably their best game of the season.

The Ramblers shot only 34 percent from the floor in the first half compared to Butler’s 48.  They showed tenacity as they fought back from a 35-27 Bulldog lead after the opening twenty.

Loyola actually shot worse in the second half from the field, posting a shooting percentage of only 33 percent.  But their defense stepped it up and held Butler to only 9 of 23 from the floor to close out the second half.   Three-pointers kept Loyola alive in regulation.  They shot 3 of 5 from behind the arc in the second while Butler was unable to convert (0 for 7). 

Key to Loyola’s spectacular play, and more evidence of how well they played defensively, was their strong rebounding.  They outrebounded Butler 48-35 in the game.  A remarkable 25 of those boards came on the offensive end, enabling Loyola to outgun the Bulldogs 23-8 when it came to second chance points.

Junior forward Tom Levin knocked down a three (his only points of the game) with just over 13 minutes remaining to start a 12-5 Rambler run over the next six minutes.  With 6:55 to go, and his team down two (52-50), junior guard A.J. Graves scored four straight to put Butler back on top 54-52.  Graves led the Bulldogs with 26 points and 3 steals… and he wasn’t done.

As the two teams battled down the stretch, Loyola did have a chance to win it.  But senior guard Blake Schlib missed a jumper with three seconds remaining, forcing overtime. 

Schlib, however, was dominant the rest of the game.  He led all players in points, rebounds and assists with 27, 11 and 6.  He also gave the Ramblers their only lead during overtime after his three-pointer put them up 65-66 with just under three minutes to go.  Unfortunately, that three would also mark Loyola’s final points of the game.

Graves was clutch down the stretch and simply proved to be too much for the Ramblers in overtime.  He hit a free throw to tie the game at 66 with under two minutes left and put his team up for good with under one minute to play.  His three pointer with 56 seconds left gave the Bulldogs a 69-66 edge.  It was his third three-pointer of overtime, where he was responsible for 10 of 11 Butler points.

Junior forward Pete Campbell hit the first of two free throws in extra time to give Butler the 70-66 decision.  Campbell had 12 points and two assists off the bench in only 18 minutes of playing time.

With the win, the Bulldogs improved to 18-2.  Their 6-1 mark tops the Horizon League.  Butler takes on Detroit on Saturday.

The loss stopped a Rambler home winning streak at 7 games and marked their first loss at the Gentile Center since November.  It also dropped Loyola’s record to 13-8.  4-4 in conference ties them with U.I.C. and Detroit for third in the league.

The Butler game was the second of a four game home stand for Loyola.  The Ramblers take on conference foes Wright State (13-8, 6-2) on Saturday, January 27.  The Horizon League showdown is set for a 4pm tip off.