CHICAGO, Ill. (January 18, 2023)
 
In Short…
Despite a season-low nine turnovers, Loyola University Chicago (6-12, 0-6 A-10) dropped a 76-59 decision to Saint Louis Wednesday evening inside Gentile Arena.
 
Four Ramblers scored in double figures, led by Braden Norris' team-high 15 points. Philip Alston scored 14, Jalen Quinn added 12 in his first start in over a month and Ben Schwieger chipped in 10.
 
After playing Saint Louis virtually level over the first 20 minutes of action, the Billikens outscored Loyola by a 38-25 margin in the second half thanks to 57.7% shooting while limiting Loyola to just 33.3% shooting from the field over the final 20 minutes.
 
How It Happened
Loyola opened the game on fire, going 4-for-6 from the field and 3-for-4 from 3-point range to take an 11-9 lead at the opening media timeout. Jalen Quinn, making his first start since Nov. 20, drilled a three-pointer before Braden Norris followed with a triple of his own less than 30 seconds later.
 
The Ramblers maintained its advantage through the second segment of action thanks to the efforts of the defense, which forced four Billiken turnovers over the first 8-plus minutes of action. Loyola employed a well-balanced offense, with five different Ramblers finding the bottom of the basket during the early going.
 
An emphatic dunk along the baseline by Philip Alston pushed the Loyola lead to 26-21 with 8:21 remaining, forcing Saint Louis to burn an early timeout. The bucket gave Alston eight early points to lead all scorers.
 
In front of a spirited crowd inside Gentile Arena, the Ramblers and Billikens continued to battle, with Saint Louis eventually pulling even at the under-4 media timeout at 32-all. Saint Louis would take its first lead since the early going with a 9-0 run to lead 38-32 with less than a minute remaining, but Tom Welch converted in the paint in the closing seconds to pull Loyola within four, 38-34, at the halftime break.
 
The Billikens would open the second half with an 8-3 scoring advantage to push the lead to nine at 46-37 with 15:53 remaining in the game.
 
Saint Louis began to get hot from the field, going 4-for-4 from the field over a three-minute stretch to extend the Billikens' lead to 56-43 and force the Ramblers to call timeout with 11:50 to go in the contest.
 
Thanks to 57.1% shooting by Saint Louis while limiting Loyola to 31.3% from the floor, the Billikens maintained its double-figured lead over the Ramblers over the middle portion of the second half.
 
Saint Louis' on-point shooting would continue over the closing minutes of the game, pulling away for the 17-point victory.
 
Inside The Box Score

• The nine turnovers by the Ramblers are new season-low, surpassing their previous low of 10, set against George Washington in Loyola's A-10 opener.
• Philip Alston extended his streak of games in double figures to 10 in a row. Alston has scored 10 or more points in all but two games this season.
• Braden Norris matched a season-high with three steals.

 
Up Next
Loyola remains at home to take on St. Bonaventure on Saturday, Jan. 21. Tip-off inside Gentile Arena is set for 3 p.m. on NBC Sports Chicago.
 
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