Greyhounds Run Past Cougars in Men's Basketball 78-64

Box Score The Chicago State men's basketball team completed a five-game road trip with a 78-64 loss to Loyola Maryland Wednesday at the Reitz Arena in Baltimore. The Cougars fall to 2-5 after winning their first two games at home to start the season.

Brandon Betson and Jahsean Corbett shared the team in scoring with 15 apiece while Favour Chukwukelu contributed 12. Corbett also led all players with 13 rebounds and Betson and Kedrick Green shared the assist lead with four.

The Cougars opened the game with a 6-2 lead on hoops by Jahsean Corbett to open the game, followed by a Kedrick Green layup. Following a Greyhounds layup, Coreyoun Rushin converted a layup for the early advantage. Loyola Maryland countered with a three-point basket and the Cougars held a one-point advantage at the first time out.

The Greyhounds converted a pair of free throws to take their first lead of the game, 7-6, before Rushin scored for CSU in what would become a back and forth first half for the first 10 minutes. Loyola's Cam Spencer scored, was fouled, and converted the free throw to put the Greyhounds up 10-8 with 13:23 remaining in the first half.

At that point, Loyola went on a 7-0 run in the next two minutes to go up 17-8 before Betson scored his first points of the night, a three pointer, and the Greyhounds were up 17-11 with 11:14 remaining in the first half.

The teams exchanged baskets, Corbett converting a layup and free throw and Kedrick Green followed with a three and Greyhound lead was six, 22-16. Following a Loyola basketball, J.J. Harris converted a long three to start a 7-0 run and pull Chicago State to within three, 24-21, with 7:37 remaining.

Following a Corbett free throw, Loyola went on a 5-0 run and led 29-24 before Favour Chukwukelu stopped the run and cut the lead to two, 29-27 closing in on the end of the first half. 

Loyola closed the half with a 15-2 run in the final 3:53 to take a 13-point lead into the locker room at halftime, 42-29.

The Cougars committed 17 first-half turnovers leading to 18 Greyhounds points and the trend continued at the start of the second half as two early CSU miscues bolstered a 5-2 run and Loyola had its largest lead, 16 points, 47-31, with 17:19 remaining in the game.

Chukwukelu, who had made one three-point field goal this season coming into the game, converted his third of the night to pull CSU to within 11 at 54-34 and, following a pair of Greyhounds hoops, Betson hit his second three to cut the lead to 13, 59-46.

The teams exchanged baskets until Corbett converted a pair of free throws to cut the Greyhounds lead to 11 at 61-50 and got the lead down to 10, 74-64, following a Betson three and had the ball in hand to cut the lead to single digits but Corbett missed a three and the Greyhounds responded with a 4-0 run to close out the game.

Chicago State will return home to the JCC on Saturday, December 4, hosting Tennessee State.

About Chicago State
Chicago State University Athletics is comprised of 15 intercollegiate teams involving over 150 student-athletes that compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and volleyball. CSU held memberships in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and NCAA Division II before transitioning to NCAA Division I in 1994. Melvin Bland was the first CSU student-athlete to gain NAIA All-American status in 1974 as a wrestler. Fred Evans became the first black swimmer ever to win a national championship in 1975. CSU's women's basketball team earned a spot in the 2011 Women's Basketball Invitational and CSU's men's basketball team won the 2013 Great West Conference Tournament title and made an appearance in the CollegeInside.com Postseason Tournament (CIT).  The Men's Outdoor Track & Field 4x100-Meter Relay team were 2019 Honorable Mention All-Americans and WAC Champions. Their feat marked the first time the Chicago State's men's track & field program was represented at the national meet. 

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