(From Bradley University) For the second time in the event’s history, Bradley (6-17) has drawn in-state rival Loyola-Chicago (5-16) as its opponent for the Sears BracketBusters X weekend. Bradley’s final non-conference game of the year will tip off at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at Carver Arena.
Bradley owns a 30-16 lead in the all-time series against Loyola, including a 20-4 home record against the Ramblers. The teams have been familiar opponents of late, facing off in eight consecutive years from 2002-09. The last two meetings were determined by the 2009 BracketBusters and the road team took both games: Bradley by an 86-75 tally Feb. 21, 2009 in Chicago and Loyola by a 68-65 margin Dec. 16, 2009 at Carver Arena, courtesy of a Courtney Stanley halfcourt buzzer-beater.
The teams are given two years to play the return game in Chicago from this year’s meeting and the details of the return game will be announced at a later date.
First-year Bradley coach Geno Ford, who was the head coach at Kent State the previous three years, is 3-3 in games created through the BracketBusters concept. Ford is 2-1 in the February matchups with wins against eventual NCAA Tournament participant Morehead State (79-76) in 2009 and Western Carolina (74-72) in 2010, before last year’s 73-66 loss at Drexel. The Feb. 18 game against Loyola will be Ford’s first-ever game against the Ramblers.
The Ramblers are coached by former Creighton player and Illinois State head coach Porter Moser, who is in his first season with the Ramblers.
