Loyola-Chicago beats Bradley 62-54 in MVC semifinal

Mar 4, 2018, 01:54 am

ST. LOUIS -- Marques Townes made a key 3-pointer and finished with 12 points as top-seeded Loyola-Chicago beat No. 5 seed Bradley 62-54 on Saturday in a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament semifinal at the Scottrade Center.

Loyola-Chicago (27-5) has won a season-best nine straight games and will face third-seeded Illinois State (17-14) in the championship on Sunday.

Bradley trailed the entire second half and pulled to 56-54 with 4:47 to play but didn't' score again, missing its last five field goals and two free throws. Townes hit a 3-pointer with 1:25 remaining and the Ramblers made 3 of 4 free throws to end it.

Clayton Custer also scored 12 points for Loyola-Chicago. Cluster and Townes each made two of the Ramblers' nine 3-pointers.

Donte Thomas, Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye, and Nate Kennell scored 12 points apiece for Bradley (20-13). Darrell Brown chipped in 11.