Loyola beats Southern Illinois 75-56 to win first Missouri Valley title

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Clayton Custer scored 16 points and Loyola-Chicago beat Southern Illinois 75-56 on Wednesday night to clinch its first Missouri Valley Conference regular season title.

Loyola-Chicago (24-5, 14-3 Missouri Valley Conference) won its first conference crown since the 1984-85 squad collected the Midwestern Collegiate Conference title. The Ramblers, who have also won a program-best 14 conference games, conclude their regular season hosting Illinois State on Saturday.

Southern Illinois (19-11, 11-6) had its three-game win streak snapped but now has sole possession of second place over Drake (10-7), which lost to Illinois State (10-7).

Custer was 6-of-10 shooting and made three 3-pointers. Aundre Jackson made 7 of 10 field goals and added 15 points, and Cameron Krutwig chipped in 14 points for Loyola-Chicago.

Kavion Pippen scored 16 points and Armon Fletcher had 14 to lead Southern Illinois.

The Ramblers had a double-digit lead six minutes into the game, built a 44-36 halftime lead and cruised from there