By Malcolm Price
1 18 2025
LOYOLA GAME NOTES
https://loyolaramblers.com/documents/2025/1/17/18_-_Dayton.pdf
CHICAGO – Loyola Chicago and Dayton meet Saturday afternoon for a 3 p.m. CT tip-off on CBS Sports Network. The Ramblers are coming off a win over Rhode Island earlier this week, while the Flyers dropped their last three games.
Saturday’s game can be watched on CBS Sports Network with Tom McCarthy (PXP) and Chris Walker (Analyst) and can be listened to Rambler Sports Network with Scott Sudikoff (PXP) and Christian Thomas (Analyst).
RAMBLINGS
• Loyola heads out for another road trip after winning two of its last three games. The Ramblers beat Rhode Island at home earlier this week and downed La Salle in Philadelphia last week.
• Des Watson scored 21 against the Rams, marking his third game this year with at least 20 points. Jalen Quinn dropped a career-high 17, while Francis Nwaokorie had a season-best 14.
• Miles Rubin had two blocked shots in the game, including one in the final minute to ruin URI’s attempt at making it a one possession game. Rubin sits at 23rd in the country with 34 blocks this season. He needs just 10 more on the season to land on the single-season record list for the second consecutive year.
• Loyola tallied a season-low five turnovers, which ties the fewest turnovers committed during Valentine’s tenure.
• Against the Explorers, four Ramblers had at least 10 points, including a pair of 20-point outings. Jayden Dawson and Sheldon Edwards Jr. had 20-points each and became the second Loyola duo to record 20 points in the same game this season. Edwards Jr. and Miles Rubin did it in Hawaii against Oakland.
• Dawson finished 6-of-10 from the field with three from deep and 5-of-5 at the line. He added six boards and three assists. Edwards Jr. was 6-of-9 from the field with four threes.
• Both Quinn and Jalen DeLoach added 13 and 12 points, respectively.
• Watson became the second Rambler to surpass 1,000 career points this season with his final bucket at Saint Joseph’s last weekend, while Edwards Jr. also reached the milestone against VCU.
• As a team, Loyola sits fourth in the A-10, shooting 35.2 percent from three-point range.
• Head coach Drew Valentine is in his fourth season at the helm. He has compiled a 69-45 overall record as head coach.
SCOUTING DAYTON
The Flyers sit at 11-6 overall and dropped their last three for a 1-3 start to A-10 play. Before league play tipped off, Dayton notched wins over two teams ranked in the top-six, UConn and Marquette. The Flyers have slipped since the start of January and rank 12th in scoring in A-10 play on the league’s leaderboards.
Nate Santos leads Dayton, scoring 14.8 points per game on 44.2 percent from the field. He’s also drained a team-leading 38 threes while shooting 41.3 percent from the arc. Santos is on a 13-game double-figure scoring streak, which includes a season-high 24 points vs. Leigh.
Anthony Grant is in his eighth season leading the Flyers. He holds a 160-78 record at the helm.
SERIES HISTORY
The Flyers lead the all-time series, 25-16. Loyola stunned No. 21 Dayton last season behind a career night from Watson who dropped 24 points in the win.
COURTESY LOYOLA ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
