{"id":65938,"date":"2018-01-29T22:16:05","date_gmt":"2018-01-30T04:16:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/?p=65938"},"modified":"2018-01-30T16:54:12","modified_gmt":"2018-01-30T22:54:12","slug":"clayton-custer-sparks-loyola-again-leaving-another-reminder-of-his-importance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/clayton-custer-sparks-loyola-again-leaving-another-reminder-of-his-importance\/","title":{"rendered":"Clayton Custer sparks Loyola again, leaving another reminder of his importance"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Patrick Engel<\/strong>
\nMedill Reports<\/i><\/p>\n

At some point, someone was going to make a shot.<\/p>\n

Loyola and Northern Iowa traded misses and turnovers for the opening nine minutes, giving the 2,658 fans in Gentile Arena the feeling that scoring 50 would bring a win. The teams combined for 11 points in the opening 9:06, with UNI holding a 7-4 edge.<\/p>\n

That is, until Clayton Custer made a shot. Then another. And another.<\/p>\n

When he finally missed \u2013 after five straight connections \u2013 Loyola had a five-point lead.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The seemingly improbable misfire came with 55 seconds left in the first half. But Custer had another chance on the next possession. Loyola coach Porter Moser instructed him to hold for the final shot. Then, he called for an isolation for Custer.<\/p>\n

Custer, in that isolation, made a fall-away jumper with three seconds left, giving his team a 26-19 lead at the break.<\/p>\n

Three players scored in double figures in Loyola\u2019s 70-47 win over UNI (11-11, 3-7 Missouri Valley) on Sunday afternoon, led by Custer\u2019s season-high 21 points.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just happened to find myself open a little more today and I was able to knock down a couple shots,\u201d Custer said.<\/p>\n

The Ramblers (18-4, 8-2 MVC) have plenty of capable scorers. They shoot 51 percent from the field and have four players who average at least 10 points per game. Those four all rank in the MVC’s top 20 in scoring. But there\u2019s becoming little doubt Custer makes the offense run and is best equipped to carry the team if needed.<\/p>\n

Sunday, he was certainly needed. Loyola\u2019s offense, stuck on four points through the first nine minutes, turned to its leading scorer for a boost. His five straight jumpers came in a span of 9:25, helping erase that 7-4 hole. When he checked out of the game for good with 1:41 left, a few chants of \u201cM-V-P\u201d from the student section echoed in the gym.<\/p>\n

Custer has not only made a case for team MVP, he looks like a real candidate for MVC Player of the Year.<\/p>\n

He’s only 12th in the conference in scoring average, but is one of two players to rank in the top 12 in scoring and top four in 3-point percentage, assists per game and steals per game.\u00a0The other player is Evansville’s Dru Smith. His team, though, is eighth in the MVC standings.<\/p>\n

Custer\u00a0doesn’t own eye-popping stats like Missouri State’s Alize Johnson, the preseason MVC Player of the Year who’s averaging a double-double. Missouri State, initially picked to win the league, is 5-5 and in a three-way tie for fifth. Loyola is in first and two games ahead of everyone else. There’s something to be said for that, if it holds.<\/p>\n

Here’s perhaps a better look at Custer’s value. His assertion against UNI comes after he sparked a 51-point second half in Wednesday\u2019s win at Drake. Before that, he scored 11 points as part of a 16-4 run to seal a win at Valparaiso on Jan. 21. He gave Loyola the lead for good with five straight points in a Jan. 7 road win over Illinois State.<\/p>\n

Topping it off, three of Loyola\u2019s four losses this season came when Custer was out with an ankle injury.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s locked in,\u201d Loyola coach Porter Moser said. \u201cHe gives you a threat. He can draw and kick, he can knock down shots. He\u2019s really in a good place right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s got the best to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

Photo at top: Loyola redshirt junior guard Clayton Custer drives the ball in a Jan. 28 game against Northern Iowa at Gentile Arena (Patrick Engel\/MEDILL).<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Patrick Engel Medill Reports At some point, someone was going to make a shot. Loyola and Northern Iowa traded misses and turnovers for the opening nine minutes, giving the 2,658 fans in Gentile Arena the feeling that scoring 50 would bring a win. 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