Cougars Men's Basketball Drop Season Opener on the Road at Loyola

Box Score The Chicago State men's basketball team pulled the curtain open on the debut of new head coach Scott Spinelli's 2024-25 squad Monday night against Loyola at the Gentile Center in Chicago. The Cougars led throughout most of the first half and by as many as six on two occassions, before Loyola drained a three at the buzzer to take their first lead since the 11:49 mark and extended to double digits for much of the second half for the eventual 79-72 Ramblers victory.

It was a tale of two halves for the Cougars who converted 7-of-15 three point attempts in the first half but only 1-of-11 in the second and a 9-1 Loyola run in the first three minutes of the second stanza gave LU an eight-point lead and the two teams would play around that margin for the remainder of the game. 

Three Cougars scored in double figures led by Gabe Spinelli who scored 13, followed by Saxby Sunderland and Cam Jernigan who each had 11. 

Next up for the Cougars will be their home debut on Saturday, November 9 against Youngstown State at 7 p.m. at the Jones Convocation Center in Chicago.

About Chicago State Athletics
Chicago State University sponsors 16 Division I intercollegiate athletic teams and competes in the Northeast Conference with the exception of men's and women's tennis who will compete in the Horizon League during the 2024-25 season. CSU's athletic program includes over 150 student-athletes that compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track, triathlon and volleyball. 
 
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