Monster fourth lifts Meteors over Ramblers

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Friday, Jan. 28, 2011
9:53 p.m.
By Craig Lynch
YourSeason.com

For three quarters, No. 5 De La Salle was stuck in a taffy pull with visiting Loyola. The Meteors used a 20-3 run in the final five minutes to roll by the Ramblers 60-43 Friday night in Chicago.

In the fourth quarter I had to get more aggressive, said sophomore Jaylon Tate, who scored 15 of his game-high 17 points in the second half, including nine in the fourth quarter. They really backed off of me tonight. They know Shaw and Henley are great players so I showed my team that even though Im young I can still contribute.

Tate hit a basket and two free throws to put the Meteors up 44-40 to start the late onslaught. Marcus Whites three-pointer put De La Salle ahead 49-40. The Ramblers closed to 49-43 on a three-pointer by Jack Morrissey with 2:55 to play. But De La Salle (16-2) scored the final 11, including a thunderous dunk by Michael Shaw (12 points, eight rebounds) off an alley-oop.

It got to be pretty physical out there, Shaw said. All our guys played big tonight, especially Tate.

The Ramblers (9-10) were led by Jared Prince with 12 points. Prince fouled out with under seven minutes to play.

We didnt back down and when youre playing against one of the toughest teams in the state of Illinois, we were glad to be tied, said Loyola coach Tom Livatino. But were not about close; we expect to win.

After three quarters the Meteors had only made 3 of 10 free throws, but they converted 9 of 10 in the fourth quarter.

The coaches stressed free throws in practice and we know we have to make them, Tate said.

Alex Foster and Dre Henley each scored 10 for De La Salle.

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