LEGNANO, Italy -- Loyola University Chicago used a 20-4 run midway through the first quarter to turn a one-point deficit into a 13-point lead as it earned an 82-67 victory over Legnano Basket. The win gives the Ramblers a 3-1 record on their four-game trip to Italy and senior forward Ben Averkamp had his best performance of the trip, collecting 21 points and 10 rebounds.
“I thought Ben played his best game of the trip tonight,” Loyola head coach Porter Moser said. “Tanner (Williams) gave us a big lift off the bench, Kody (Williams) provided us with some tremendous energy as did Devon (Turk).Devon has the ability to change the game because of his shooting ability and tonight proved that. I sometimes forget that Cully (Payne) has been out for two years and need to be more patient with him. All in all, this trip was beneficial for our team and served as a great bonding experience. Italy is a beautiful country and the people here couldn’t have been more welcoming to our program.”
Legnano held an early 9-6 lead before a basket by Averkamp ignited the game-changing 20-4 spurt, one that featured an impressive display by freshman guard Devon Turk, who at one point tallied eight straight points for the Ramblers, six coming courtesy of the three-point shot.
Averkamp was responsible for Loyola’s first six points of the second quarter, and freshman forward Tanner Williams capped off a 14-4 run with consecutive baskets as the Ramblers extended their lead to 43-22. Legnano finished out the quarter on a 14-4 run of its own to close within 49-36 at the half.
Tanner Williams tallied six of his 16 points on the evening during the third quarter, accounting for more than half of the team’s total for the quarter, but Legnano trimmed a few points off its deficit, closing within 60-49.
Legnano opened the fourth quarter with a basket to get within nine points, the closest since trailing21-13 late in the first quarter, but five straight points from Averkamp and six from Turk accounted for the entire output in an 11-0 run that pushed Loyola’s lead back to 71-51.
Averkamp finished the game with team highs of 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Tanner Williams (16 points, 8rebounds) and Turk (16 points) provided a huge lift off the bench and Cully Payne handed out 10 assists and pulled down eight boards.
(Release courtesy LoyolaRamblers.com)
Tags: Loyola - Men's Basketball
