Chicago, IL – Contributed – Arkansas State (0-3) surged in the first half but was ultimately unable to hold off Loyola Chicago (2-1), falling 63-61 Wednesday night at Gentile Arena.

Crislyn Rose led the Red Wolves for the third time this season in points, with 24 total, seven assists, and four rebounds. Amina Gray also reached double digits, scoring 13 points with two rebounds and one assist. Jaidyn Elam led the squad in rebounds, pulling in six.

Landing 10 threes in the first half, A-State failed to convert any in the second, finishing 10-for-30 (33 percent), and 20-for-60 overall (33 percent). Loyola scored on 35 percent from the field (22-of-63) and hit 16 percent from deep (3-of-19).

An 8-0 run to open the game for the Red Wolves, Amina Gray hit back-to-back threes to score six of them. Loyola answered with 11 of their own. Down 13-9 in the final minute of the quarter, Gray hit another triple before Crislyn Rose finished with a crowded layup at the rim for the 14-12 lead.

| ADD US ON GOOGLE NEWS: Click here to see more local news from Jonesboro Right Now

Rose carried the scoring into the second quarter, dropping in three shots from deep in the front half of the quarter as part of an 11-2 run for the road team. Maya Chocano also started to head up, adding a three in that run before picking up another couple of triples through the end of the half. Audreonia Benson landed back-to-back shots from beyond the arc, totaling 21 of the 27 second quarter points from three.

A-State out of half was 3-of-12 from the field, with half of their points in the quarter coming at the free throw line, the Ramblers pulling within eight thanks to a 19-12 scoring differential in favor of the home team.

With slow scoring in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, Loyola evened the score, as both sides traded free throws. Loyola made the go-ahead layup with less than a second remaining; the Red Wolves unable to wrangle in the inbound.

The Red Wolves head home for their season opener at First National Bank Arena, hosting Jackson State on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m.

| DAILY BRIEF: Sign up for the Jonesboro Right Now Daily Brief Newsletter