CHICAGO – UIC's Damaria Franklin registered his second double-double of the young season Saturday, but a strong shooting effort from Loyola in the second half helped propel the Ramblers (4-0) to an 80-63 victory over visiting UIC (2-2) at Gentile Arena in Rogers Park.

Loyola shot nearly 60 percent in the final 20 minutes, while turning the ball over only once in that span. Franklin scored 22 points and pulled down a career-best 12 rebounds for UIC. Jalen Warren was also in double figures with 13 points off the bench for the Flames.

The Flames came out as the aggressors early on, scoring the game's first five points. Loyola scored the next six, but a triple from Filip Skobalj gave UIC an 8-5 lead with a shade under four minutes gone by in the contest. UIC methodically built the cushion up to as many as 10 points over the next eight minutes to go up 21-11 in the opening stanza.

Loyola worked its way back in front, 28-25, with two minutes remaining in the half before UIC's Franklin buried a 3-pointer on the next possession. The Ramblers answered with another shot from distance before Michael Diggins drilled his first of the afternoon to tie the game at 31-31 in the final minute. Loyola scored inside off a timeout and Franklin's triple try at the buzzer drew iron to give the home team a two-point lead at the break.

As the squads returned to the floor, UIC punched first and grabbed a 45-42 lead with 14:45 remaining when Franklin scored on a second-chance opportunity thanks to rebound from Jamie Ahale. Just over a minute later Loyola's Ryan Schweiger converted one of his two 3-point field goals on the day to put the Ramblers ahead for good. The home team ballooned the lead to as many as 14 points about six minutes later. UIC cut its deficit to eight points on multiple occasions down the stretch, but would come no closer.

The Flames will travel to the desert for the Las Vegas Classic over the Thanksgiving holiday. UIC will open the two-day tournament on Thursday against Hawai'i at 3 p.m. CT before taking on either San Diego or South Alabama on Friday.
 
News & Notes

• Damaria Franklin has two double-doubles this season and both have come against opponents from the Missouri Valley Conference. In addition to Saturday's effort of 22 points and 12 rebounds at Loyola, he poured in 23 points and grabbed 11 boards at Valparaiso on Nov. 13.
• After registering 28 assists last time out against Trinity Christian, the Flames produced only nine helpers Saturday at Loyola. UIC's Kevin Johnson led all players with five helpers in the game.
• Loyola's bench outscored UIC's, 30-21, reversing what was once a 15-2 edge for the Flames reserves in the first half. The Flames are 0-2 this season when their bench has been outscored.
• Both teams shot 46% in the first half with 12 field goals. The Flames made five 3-pointers to LUC's two, but the Ramblers picked up seven points at the charity stripe in nine trips.
• The game featured six ties and five lead changes.
• Loyola has won the last nine meetings between the former conference foes.