CHICAGO (AP) -Justin Cerasoli had a career-high 28 points and Loyola of Chicago won 71-56 over Valparaiso Saturday.
Cerasoli scored 18 of his points in the first 12 minutes. The other Ramblers built a 29-18 lead with three minutes left.
The Crusaders then outscored Loyola 8-1 over the rest of the first half.
After intermission, Loyola (Horizon League, 11-8, 3-4) scored ten of the first 14 points to build a 40-30 margin.
Cerasoli was backed up by J.R. Blount with 15 points and Walt Gibler with nine. Gibler hit all seven of his free throws and has made 29 of 31 from the line for the season.
Aric Van Weelden also had a career-high, grabbing 11 rebounds.
Valparaiso (5-14, 2-6) was playing short handed because of a knee injury to leading scorer Urule Igbavboa. Michael Rogers scored 16 points for the Crusaders, while Howard Little had 12 and Cameron Witt added 10.
