CHICAGO (December 2, 2021) - For the first time since 2012, CTA Red Line rivals Loyola and DePaul are matching up on the hardwood Saturday afternoon in a battle of six-win teams. Dating back to last season, the Ramblers have won seven of their last eight true road games, with the lone defeat being a one-point, overtime setback (51-50) at Drake on February 14, 2021.
Loyola has won 25 of its last 29 contests dating back to last year and its four losses in that stretch have come by a grand total of 17 points, with three of those defeats coming at the hands of Power 5 opponents (Auburn, Michigan State, Oregon State).
Last Friday's 77-59 decision over Arizona State was the Ramblers' ninth win against a Power 5 opponent since the start of the 2016-17 season.
The Ramblers have fared quite well against local competition and bring a 14-game win streak versus Chicagoland area foes into Saturday's game at DePaul. The last time Loyola lost to a Chicago area opponent was a 61-59 decision at UIC on January 16, 2013.
In its six wins this season, Loyola is producing 88.2 points per game and shooting 53.8 percent (185-for-344) from the field and 45.1 percent (69-for-153) from three-point land, but is mustering only 57.0 ppg in its two losses.
Loyola – DePaul – The Series
Long-time city rivals Loyola and DePaul are pairing up for the 57th time in the all-time series, but the first since December 29, 2012. The Blue Demons hold a 38-18 edge in the series and have claimed 11 of the last 12 meetings between the Red Line rivals.
The Ramblers are just 2-19 all time against DePaul on the Blue Demons' home court, picking up a 69-61 decision in the aforementioned last meeting in 2012.
In that 2012 contest, Cully Payne scored a game-high 24 points and Christian Thomas added 12 points and 10 rebounds to power the Ramblers to their first win over the Demons since January 21, 1989.
Scouting DePaul
Under first-year head coach Tony Stubblefield, DePaul has gotten off to an impressive start, winning its first six contests, while averaging a whopping 88.5 points per game. Last Sunday, the Blue Demons drilled Eastern Michigan, 101-63, shooting 58 percent (40-for-69) from the field.
Former Valparaiso guard Javon Freeman-Liberty, who was high school teammates of current Loyola guard Lucas Williamson at Whitney Young High School in Chicago, is leading the resurgence for the Blue Demons, averaging 23.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.2 steals per game.
All six of DePaul's wins this season have come at Wintrust Arena, where it boasts a 10-game win streak versus non-Big East opponents.
Sophomore forward David Jones is pitching in 16.7 ppg and 8.2 rpg and is one of five Blue Demons averaging 10 or more points per outing.
Up Next
Loyola returns to Gentile Arena December 7 when it looks to extend its 27-game home-court win streak when it hosts Roosevelt.
