CHICAGO (August 6, 2018) – Jesuit rivals Loyola University Chicago and Saint Joseph's University have signed a contract to begin a home-and-home series in men's basketball beginning with the 2018-19 season. The two teams renew their rivalry on December 22 when they square off in Philadelphia at The Palestra, one of the most iconic venues in college basketball. Loyola will host Saint Joseph's in November 2019 at Gentile Arena.
 
The Ramblers' and Hawks' only previous meeting came on November 18, 2016 at the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, with Saint Joesph's emerging with a 71-57 victory. 
 
Last season, Saint Joseph's posted a 16-16 overall record and a 10-8 record in Atlantic 10 Conference action, but finished the year with a flourish, winning seven of its final nine contests, with the two losses coming by a combined six points. In fact, 10 of the Hawks' 16 setbacks came by four or fewer points.
 
The game with Saint Joseph's is part of what is shaping up to be a competitive and challenging non-conference schedule. Loyola will host Nevada, which will enter the 2018-19 season ranked in the Top 25, on November 27, in a rematch of the epic NCAA Sweet 16 contest won by the Ramblers, 69-68, in Atlanta, last season, and also will play Maryland on December 8 in Baltimore. The Ramblers' 2018-19 schedule will be announced later this summer.
 
Loyola is coming off of a record-setting season in which it recorded a program-best 32 wins and reached its first NCAA Final Four since 1963. The Ramblers return three starters from that squad, including Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America guard Clayton Custer.