Tuesday, March 3rd, 8:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: U.S. Cellular Arena (10,783) -- Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Television: HLN. Home Record: Loyola-Chicago 8-8, UWM 11-3. Away Record: Loyola-Chicago 5-8, UWM 3-10. Neutral Record: Loyola-Chicago 1-1, UWM 2-0. Conference Record: Loyola-Chicago 6-12, UWM 11-7. Series Record: UW-Milwaukee leads, 23-18.

GAME NOTES: Wisconsin-Milwaukee will try to grab another victory over Loyola- Chicago, when the fifth-seeded Panthers host the eighth-seeded Ramblers this evening in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament at U.S. Cellular Arena. The Panthers defeated the Ramblers twice this season, and now hold a 23-18 edge in the all-time series against Loyola-Chicago. The Ramblers finished the regular season with a meager 6-12 conference mark, while only winning a total of 14 matchups this year. Loyola heads into the postseason on a down note, having lost eight of its final 10 games, including two in a row. As for the Panthers, they head into the first round fresh off a 68-63 victory over Detroit in their regular-season finale. It was just the second win in the last seven contest for Milwaukee, which finished with a respectable 11-7 mark in Horizon play.

Loyola's poor play offensively attributed its less-than-stellar record, as the team averaged a meager 63.2 ppg, behind a weak 40.9 percent shooting effort. Obviously if Loyola plans on winning its first Horizon title since 1984-85, the team will need to improve in a hurry. J.R. Blount has done a little of everything this season for Loyola, as the guard is producing 13.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 3.3 apg. Justin Cerasoli is only shooting 38.2 percent from the floor on the season, but the guard is still contributing 11.5 ppg on the year. Loyola closed out its regular season on a down note, shooting just 35.0 percent in a loss to Illinois-Chicago. The Ramblers finished with just 58 points, while Blount and Cerasoli led the way with 16 and 13 points, respectively.

The Panthers have not been overly impressive at either end of the floor, but rather steady. The Panthers are producing just 67.6 ppg on the year, but three different players are averaging double figures, beginning with Tone Boyle, who is averaging 13.5 ppg. Avery Smith has done it all for UWM, as the guard is netting 11.4 ppg, to go along with 5.1 rpg and a team-best 3.0 apg. Manning the paint has been James Eayrs, as the forward is posting 11.2 ppg, to go along with a team-best 5.5 rpg. As mentioned earlier the Panthers have been mediocre defensively and are currently limiting teams to just 67.6 ppg.

The Panthers have defeated the Ramblers twice this season, and barring a shocking display by Loyola, UW-Milwaukee should have no trouble upending the Ramblers for a third time.

Predicted Outcome

UW-Milwaukee 72, Loyola-Chicago 64