CHICAGO - Christian Thomas scored a game-high 20 points, including Loyola Chicago's final 10, leading the host Ramblers to a 64-49 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball win Wednesday afternoon at Gentile Arena.

Loyola improves to 11-2 overall, while Bradley falls to 5-9 in the Valley opener for both teams. Bradley has dropped 11 straight away from home since its 63-54 win at Loyola Feb. 6, 2014.

Loyola took control with a 19-2 run after the Braves had taken an 17-14 lead on an Auston Barnes jumper with 11:11 left in the first half. The Ramblers rolled to a 37-23 halftime lead and never let the advantage dip below eight points the rest of the way.

Although both teams made 21 field goals, Loyola outscored Bradley by five from 3-point range and 10 at the free throw line. The Ramblers were 8-for-17 from beyond the arc and 14-of-18 at the free throw line, while Bradley was 3-for-19 from long range and 4-for-4 at the stripe.

Barnes was Bradley's only double-digit scorer with 10 points, while freshman forward Josh Cunningham snared 10 rebounds for the Braves. Devon Turk supported Thomas' effort with 19 points.

The Braves will return home for three of their next four games, begininng with a Saturday night Valley game against a third consecutive in-state rival, Southern Illinois. The 7
p.m. game against the Salukis will be televised live on Comcast SportsNet Chicago and simulcast on ESPN3. Single game tickets for Bradley Basketball at Carver Arena begin at
$8. The Weekend 4-Pack offer will be in play Saturday - four tickets in the Red sections, four hot dogs and four non-alcoholic beverages for $50 - and BreakS8 will perform at
halftime.