CHICAGO – Loyola Chicago held Chicago State without a field goal for over 11 minutes in the second half helping chip away at the Cougar lead. The Ramblers used a 14-0 run during that stretch to take their first lead of the game and held on for a 62-53 win over CSU Tuesday night.
 
Jalen Quinn and Sheldon Edwards came off the bench with season-best performances. Quinn led all-scorers with 15 points, while Edwards added 14. Des Watson also finished in double-figures recording 13 points.
 
With the win, Loyola improves to 4-3.
 
"I thought the way this team responded was impressive, especially on a day when our shots weren't going in," said head coach Drew Valentine. "I'm proud of this team because they're the only guys that believed with us coaches that we were going to win. A lot of credit to our group. They found a way to win, and that is all that matters."
 
How It Happened
The Cougars came out and put the first six points on the board before Des Watson netted a free throw at the 16:54 mark to break the scoreless stretch for the Ramblers. Both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm midway through the half with a scoreless drought spanning over three minutes. Jahsean Corbett snapped it with a second-chance jumper with 9:49 on the clock, and CSU led, 13-5.
 
Loyola came back to tie the game 15-15 with a pair of three-pointers from Sheldon Edwards. The Cougars matched the two from deep to hold on to the lead, and took a six-point edge into the halftime break.
 
Chicago State built its lead to 10 and kept it there until the 11:20 mark of the second half. Watson drove in for a layup sparking a 14-0 run for the Ramblers. He capped the run with a dunk helping Loyola gain a four-point lead with just over seven minutes to play.
 
With 2:06 to play, Jalen Quinn gave the Ramblers a nine-point edge with back-to-back driving layups in the paint. Dame Adelekun made it a double-figure lead at the line a little over a minute later. The Cougars broke an 11-minute stretch without a field goal in the final 25 seconds, but Loyola held on for the win, 62-53.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Jayden Dawson made his first career start and tallied a personal best two blocks.
- Edwards's double-figure scoring effort was the 35^th of his career and sixth at Loyola.
- Quinn set season-highs in points (15), rebounds (4), and assists (4). He also went 7-of-8 at the line.
- Watson notched his fifth double-digit scoring game of the year.
 
Up Next
Loyola and Harvard meet this Saturday for another home tilt. Tipoff is 3 p.m. in Gentile Arena following the women's basketball game vs. Eastern Illinois.