DUEVILLE, Italy -- Jordan Hicks scored 10 of the team’s first 12 points as Loyola University Chicago rolled to a 92-39 victory over Zepa Marostica tonight in game three of the team’s four-game trip to Italy. Hicks was named most valuable player of the game after scoring 14 points, 12 of which came in the first half, and grabbing five rebounds. The win moves the Ramblers to 2-1 on the trip.
“You really have to give credit to Jordan (Hicks),” Loyola senior forward Ben Averkamp said. “He set the tone for us by being aggressive on offense and finding a rhythm from the start.”
Loyola, which utilized its third starting lineup combination in as many games, wasted no time taking control of the contest as Jeff White’s lay-up after a steal to open the scoring was followed by seven straight points from Hicks as the Ramblers built an early 9-0 edge. Zepa Marostica sliced into the Ramblers’ lead, cutting it to 15-12 before Thomas reeled off five straight points and Joe Crisman converted a conventional three-point play to extend the advantage to 23-12.
After holding a 52-27 lead at the half, Loyola put the game completely out of reach in the third quarter by outscoring Marostica, 26-4. The Ramblers held Marostica scoreless for nearly eight minutes spanning two quarters, turning a 61-31 lead into an 84-31advantage.
White led the Ramblers’ offensive outburst by tossing in a team-high 19 points, while Thomas finished with 16 points and six boards.
Cully Payne doled out a game-high 11 assists and Tanner Williams narrowly missed out on a double-double by tossing in nine points and grabbing 10 rebounds. After shooting under 50 percent from the foul line in each of the first two games in Italy, Loyola drained 17 of 20 shots (85 percent) from the stripe this evening.
Loyola wraps up its two-week trip to Italy Wednesday night (August 22) when it faces Legnano Basket.
(Release courtesy of LoyolaRamblers.com)
Tags: Loyola - Men's Basketball
