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Loyola (Chicago) 48, Boise State 45
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Senior forward Christian Thomas scored 17 points to lead Loyola (Chicago) to a 48-45 victory over Boise State in the championship game of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic on Tuesday at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
Junior forward Montel James scored 10 points for Loyola, which earned its sixth win in a row.
Sophomore forward James Webb III had nine points and nine rebounds to lead Boise State (10-3).
Loyola (10-2) took a 13-4 lead on a layup by James with 11:39 to play in the opening half. The Ramblers held an 18-10 lead after sophomore guard Milton Doyle made a 3-pointer, but Boise State battled back, mounting a 15-2 run to take a 25-20 lead on a dunk by Webb.
The Broncos led 27-22 at the break and extended their lead to 33-26 on a three-point play by senior guard Igor Hadziomerovic with 17:09 to play in the second half. The Ramblers rallied, staging a 9-0 run to take a 35-33 lead on a layup by Thomas with 12:55 to go.
Loyola maintained a slight lead until Webb made a 3-pointer to tie the game at 43-43 with 5:15 to play. The Broncos took the lead moments later on two free throws by Webb, but Loyola moved back on top on a layup by Doyle with 2:37 to go.
Boise State had a chance to tie the game at the end, but sophomore forward Nick Duncan missed a 3-pointer with two seconds remaining.
