Loyola, Ill., downs Eastern Illinois 73-62

CHICAGO (AP) — Jordan Hicks scored 16 points Thursday night as Loyola, Ill., defeated Eastern Illinois 73-62.

Terrance Hill added 13 for the Ramblers (4-0), while Walt Gibler and Geoff McCammon hit 11 each.

Eastern Illinois’ Tyler Laser led all scorers with 20 points. The Panthers (0-3) also got 18 from Jeremy Granger and 10 from James Hollowell.

Hicks scored nine of Loyola’s first 16 points, and his only 3-pointer pushed the Ramblers into a 16-1 lead 5:01 into the game.

A 3-pointer by Hill gave Loyola its biggest lead, 34-11, with 5:24 left in the first half.

The Panthers closed the first half on an 8-2 run to trim their deficit to 38-23.

Both teams shot well, Eastern Illinois going 25 of 48 (52.1 percent) and Loyola 24 of 53 (45.3 percent). The Ramblers sank seven 3-pointers to the Panthers’ three and 18 free throws to nine for Eastern Illinois.