DEKALB, Ill. (AP) -J.R. Blount scored 25 points, including ten from the foul line, to lead Loyola of Chicago to a 72-62 win over Northern Illinois on Saturday.
Loyola (6-5) dominated 30-25 before halftime and came back energized from the break to outscore Northern Illinois (4-8) 42-37 in the second period.
Marcus Thomas added 15 points and Justin Cerasoli had 12 points for Loyola. Leon Young had a game-high ten rebounds.
Tyler Storm came off the bench to lead the Huskies with 13 points and four assists. Michael Patton added 12 points and starting center Sean Kowal had ten points.
The game did bounce back and forth, with the score tied six times and the lead changing hands five times. Loyola lead by as many as 15 points and Northern Illinois by six points.
Shooting improved for both teams in the second period. Loyola went from 36.4 percent to 59.1 percent, while Northern Illinois went from 34.6 percent to 52 percent.
