CHICAGO (April 30, 2020) – For the first time since December 2012, the Loyola University Chicago men's basketball program will face local rival DePaul when the teams open a two-game series December 13 at Wintrust Arena. The series concludes when the Ramblers host the Blue Demons at Gentile Arena on December 12, 2021. 
 
"I'm really excited to get this series started up again," Loyola head coach Porter Moser said. "Having grown up in Chicago, I know how much this rivalry means, especially to the passionate college basketball fans in this great city. Loyola and DePaul have had an historic rivalry, especially in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, so to be able to rekindle that is great for college basketball."
 
The last time the teams matched up, on December 29, 2012 at Allstate Arena, a Moser-led Loyola squad snapped an 11-game losing skid against DePaul with a 69-61 victory fueled by 24 points from Cully Payne. The Ramblers and Blue Demons played annually from 1976 through 1996, but have matched up just five times in the last 24 years. DePaul holds a 38-18 advantage in the all-time series.
 
When the Blue Demons head a few stops north on the Red Line in 2021, they will be making just their second-ever appearance at Gentile Arena and first since December 7, 2011.
 
"As part of our scheduling philosophy, we annually try to play multiple local teams and we're glad to add Loyola to our schedule," DePaul head coach Dave Leitao said. "Chicago basketball fans enjoy games between the local programs and we're looking forward to our game at Wintrust Arena next season and then at Loyola the following season."
 
Loyola, which is in the midst of its most successful stretch in over half a century, has won 20 or more games in three straight seasons for the first time since the early 1960s and has advanced to the postseason three times in the last six years, including two of the last three. In addition, the Ramblers have finished no lower than second place in the MVC standings in each of the last three campaigns, winning back-to-back regular season championships in 2017-18 and 2018-19.
 
Moser welcomes back all five starters from last season's 21-win squad, including First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference center Cameron Krutwig, Third Team All-MVC swingman Tate Hall and MVC All-Defensive Team selection Lucas Williamson.