Freshman Ben Averkamp tallied game highs of 23 points and nine rebounds in Loyola's 92-62 exhibition victory over Robert Morris
 
Freshman Ben Averkamp tallied game highs of 23 points and nine rebounds in Loyola's 92-62 exhibition victory over Robert Morris
 
 
Balanced Attack Leads Loyola To 92-62 Victory Over Robert Morris

Ramblers win exhibition opener as Averkamp scores 23 points

Nov. 2, 2009

Box Score

CHICAGO - Four players scored in double figures, including freshman forward Ben Averkamp who tallied a game-high 23 points, to lead Loyola University Chicago to a 92-62 victory over Robert Morris tonight in an exhibition game at the Gentile Center. The Ramblers shot a sizzling 55 percent (36-for-65) from the field and dished out 21 assists en route to the victory.

After Robert Jones began the game with a conventional three-point play to put Robert Morris on top, Loyola countered with 11 unanswered points, seven coming from Averkamp, to open up an 11-3 lead it would never relinquish. The Eagles, the top-ranked team in NAIA, would close within a point on a pair of occasions in the opening stanza, bringing the score to 23-22 with a shade over seven minutes left.

Once again Averkamp showed the poise of a veteran as his lay-up ignited an 11-2 run that gave the Ramblers a 34-24 lead, and Loyola would later take a 36-30 advantage into the locker room at the half.

Lights-out shooting helped Loyola break the game open in the second half as it shot a blistering 65 percent (22-for-34) from the field and hit 4 of 7 shots from beyond the arc, while putting up 56 points in the period.

In addition to his 23 points, Averkamp hauled in a game-high nine rebounds and added three blocks and three steals, hitting 11-of-15 shots from the field. Walt Gibler provided scoring punch off the bench, accounting for 15 points, on 6-of-7 shooting from the field, and six rebounds in only 15 minutes of action, while Terrance Hill overcame a slow start to finish with 14 points, six boards and four assists.

Marcus Thomas chipped in 10 points off the bench, Courtney Stanley contributed nine points and four assists and Andy Polka, in his first extended action since last December, went for seven points, four rebounds, five assists and a pair of blocks.

Robert Morris, which was limited to 34 percent shooting, received 17 points from both Robert Eppinger and Robert Jones.

Loyola opens the 2009-10 regular season when it travels to Kansas State Nov. 13.