PARIS, FRANCE (August 20, 2022) 
 
In Short 
Sheldon Edwards scored a team-high 22 points but Loyola University Chicago came up on the short end of a hard-fought, 94-89 decision Saturday afternoon to FOS Provence in its final game on a three-game trip to France.
 
How It Happened
Six straight points in a prolonged first quarter marred by a slew of fouls gave FOS Provence an 18-12 lead and it would go on to lead by as many as nine points in the opening half. 
 
Trailing 43-34 late in the second quarter, the Ramblers were able to whittle the deficit down to five points (43-38) at the intermission thanks to four consecutive points from Philip Alston, who finished the game with 19 points. Those four tallies from Alston were part of a bigger 20-7 run that stretched into the third quarter and gave Loyola the lead for the first time since holding a 7-6 advantage early in the contest.
 
A bucket by Saint Thomas put Loyola on top, 51-50, and the sophomore forward added to his team's lead when he knocked down a three-pointer as the Ramblers edge swelled to 54-50.
 
FOS Provence fought back and surged ahead until another Thomas three early in the fourth quarter knotted the score at 68-68. However, four unanswered points put FOS Provence ahead for good and it would seal the outcome a few minutes later when it rattled off nine straight points to extend the lead to 87-77, its largest of the game.
 
Inside the Numbers

• Edwards was Loyola's leading scorer for the second straight outing and in addition to his 22 points, also contributed four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
• Alston pitched in 19 points and Thomas added 17 for Loyola, which played the final eight minutes of the game without Braden Norris, who fouled out.
• Allan Dokossi led FOS Provence with 22 points on 10-for-10 shooting from the field.

 
Up Next
Loyola will continue preparation for the 2022-23 season in late September with the official start of preseason practices.