Central Michigan University Athletics
Tuesday, December 2
Chicago, Ill./Gentile Arena
8:00 PM ET/7:00 PM CT
Central Michigan University
3-5,0-0MAC
72
at
83
Loyola (Ill.)
2-7,0-0Atlantic 10
1
2
F
Central Mich.
39
33
72
Loyola Chicago
31
52
83
Team Stats
CMU
Loyola
FG%
.519
.500
3FG%
.357
.286
FT%
.765
.697
RB
27
34
TO
10
8
STL
1
6
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
9
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Lauren Verellen
Loyola Rallies in Second Half to Defeat Chippewas 83-72
12/2/2025 11:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Loyola overcomes eight-point halftime deficit for the win; Rodney Johnson, Jr. scores a career-high 21 points, Nathan Claerbaut adds his seventh consecutive double figure scoring game with 14.
CHICAGO, Ill.—Loyola (Ill.) overcame an eight-point halftime deficit and outscored Central Michigan 52-33 in the second half as the host Ramblers registered an 83-72 men's basketball victory on Tuesday evening at Gentile Arena. The loss drops Central Michigan to 3-5 overall, while Loyola (Ill.) improves to 2-7. Central Michigan is back in action at Saint Louis on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT.
Trailing 39-31 at halftime, Loyola caught fire in the second half as it shot 63 percent (17-27) from the floor, used a 10-0 run to take control of the game. The Ramblers outscored the Chippewas 14-2 in a run spanning six minutes to take a commanding 69-58 lead with 3:41 to play.
"They certainly played better with more energy," Central Michigan head coach Andy Bronkema said. "Right now, when we're the frontrunning team, we just need to gain some maturity. When things go wrong, we need to dial back into the next right thing. It snowballs quick on us. We had some guys who had subpar games today that are way more talented than they played today. We're not going to beat Loyola unless we all play pretty well and contribute to winning. We're right in the game. We're going to gain that maturity and we're going to figure out what it feels like to make the simple, right play. Right now, we shut down a little bit. It's right there."
"We did do some great things tonight, but it's a 40-minute game. That's what we're going to learn, When we do learn it, we're going to have a chance to win these games down the stretch."
Justin Moore led Loyola with 21 points on 5-12 shooting. He drew eight fouls and converted 10-14 free throws. Miles Rubin added 16 points (7-9 FG) and seven rebounds, Kymany Housinsou finished with 11 points and six assists, and Deywilk Tavarez contributed 11 points. Loyola's victory snapped a seven-game losing streak.
Central Michigan was led by Rodney Johnson, Jr.'s career-high 21 points on 9-14 shooting. He scored 13 of his 21 points in the first half. He also grabbed six rebounds and hit two 3-pointers. Nathan Claerbaut finished with his seventh consecutive game with 10 or more points as he contributed 14 points (6-8 FG) with six rebounds in a career-high 35 minutes of action. Phat Phat Brooks added 11 points and six assists in 30 minutes.
"I'm proud of Rodney, he's already been through a lot this year and he's got a lot going on," Bronkema said. "We've been working every day to communicate. Rodney was great tonight. The expectation for Rodney is to be the best he can be. I think he took steps to that tonight. I thought some other guys played well tonight also. Tonight, we had to play Nathan too many minutes."
Loyola quickly opened the second half with a 7-0 run to cut CMU's lead down to one at 39-38. Central Michigan kept the lead until Loyola went on an 8-0 run. A Tavares 3-pointer with 14:29 to play gave Loyola its first lead since early in the game.
Central Michigan battled to take the lead back, 53-51 on two Tamario Adley free throws with 11:29 to play.
But Loyola was too much as the Ramblers outscored Central Michigan 14-2 run over a six-minute span.
"All of these games are teaching us," Bronkema said. "It was a big run by Loyola, they made some big plays, felt what it felt like to get the crowd behind you and get momentum. They were searching for it too and they got us tonight."
"We'll have to look at the film and keep plugging away. I'm frustrated but at the same time I really enjoy coaching this group and I think when it clicks, it's going to click. We just want to keep battling."
Using 62.5 percent shooting (15-24) and 13 first half points from Johnson, Central Michigan outscored Loyola (Ill.) 14-6 to close out the half and take an eight-point lead (39-31) at the break. Logan McIntire drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the lead.
With the score tied at 25-25, Central Michigan hit four 3-pointers in the half's final 3:36 to build its lead. Jaxson Whitaker hit a 3-pointer, Keenan Garner followed with a layup for a 30-25 lead at the 2:54 mark. Whitaker then hit another 3-pointer for a 33-27 lead, Johnson followed with another 3-pointer and 36-29 lead with 1:02 left and McIntire closed the half down with a shot from nearly halfcourt.
Trailing 39-31 at halftime, Loyola caught fire in the second half as it shot 63 percent (17-27) from the floor, used a 10-0 run to take control of the game. The Ramblers outscored the Chippewas 14-2 in a run spanning six minutes to take a commanding 69-58 lead with 3:41 to play.
"They certainly played better with more energy," Central Michigan head coach Andy Bronkema said. "Right now, when we're the frontrunning team, we just need to gain some maturity. When things go wrong, we need to dial back into the next right thing. It snowballs quick on us. We had some guys who had subpar games today that are way more talented than they played today. We're not going to beat Loyola unless we all play pretty well and contribute to winning. We're right in the game. We're going to gain that maturity and we're going to figure out what it feels like to make the simple, right play. Right now, we shut down a little bit. It's right there."
"We did do some great things tonight, but it's a 40-minute game. That's what we're going to learn, When we do learn it, we're going to have a chance to win these games down the stretch."
Justin Moore led Loyola with 21 points on 5-12 shooting. He drew eight fouls and converted 10-14 free throws. Miles Rubin added 16 points (7-9 FG) and seven rebounds, Kymany Housinsou finished with 11 points and six assists, and Deywilk Tavarez contributed 11 points. Loyola's victory snapped a seven-game losing streak.
Central Michigan was led by Rodney Johnson, Jr.'s career-high 21 points on 9-14 shooting. He scored 13 of his 21 points in the first half. He also grabbed six rebounds and hit two 3-pointers. Nathan Claerbaut finished with his seventh consecutive game with 10 or more points as he contributed 14 points (6-8 FG) with six rebounds in a career-high 35 minutes of action. Phat Phat Brooks added 11 points and six assists in 30 minutes.
"I'm proud of Rodney, he's already been through a lot this year and he's got a lot going on," Bronkema said. "We've been working every day to communicate. Rodney was great tonight. The expectation for Rodney is to be the best he can be. I think he took steps to that tonight. I thought some other guys played well tonight also. Tonight, we had to play Nathan too many minutes."
Loyola quickly opened the second half with a 7-0 run to cut CMU's lead down to one at 39-38. Central Michigan kept the lead until Loyola went on an 8-0 run. A Tavares 3-pointer with 14:29 to play gave Loyola its first lead since early in the game.
Central Michigan battled to take the lead back, 53-51 on two Tamario Adley free throws with 11:29 to play.
But Loyola was too much as the Ramblers outscored Central Michigan 14-2 run over a six-minute span.
"All of these games are teaching us," Bronkema said. "It was a big run by Loyola, they made some big plays, felt what it felt like to get the crowd behind you and get momentum. They were searching for it too and they got us tonight."
"We'll have to look at the film and keep plugging away. I'm frustrated but at the same time I really enjoy coaching this group and I think when it clicks, it's going to click. We just want to keep battling."
Using 62.5 percent shooting (15-24) and 13 first half points from Johnson, Central Michigan outscored Loyola (Ill.) 14-6 to close out the half and take an eight-point lead (39-31) at the break. Logan McIntire drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the lead.
With the score tied at 25-25, Central Michigan hit four 3-pointers in the half's final 3:36 to build its lead. Jaxson Whitaker hit a 3-pointer, Keenan Garner followed with a layup for a 30-25 lead at the 2:54 mark. Whitaker then hit another 3-pointer for a 33-27 lead, Johnson followed with another 3-pointer and 36-29 lead with 1:02 left and McIntire closed the half down with a shot from nearly halfcourt.
—CMU—
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