When Loyola guard Cooper Kaifes hit a three-pointer right before the halftime buzzer against Valparaiso University Jan. 15, the fans in Gentile Arena erupted with cheers and “Cooper” chants. It was his third three-pointer of the half, and it extended the Ramblers’ lead to 10 points.
Kaifes, a first-year from Shawnee, Kansas, finished the game with 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting, all from beyond the arc. He also grabbed a season-high five rebounds and had a block and a steal on the defensive end.
The game against Valparaiso was the sixth time Kaifes has scored in double figures, and Loyola is 5-1 in those games.