CHICAGO - Loyola Chicago returns home for one game before the Christmas break. They welcome Charleston Southern for the first time in program history. Both the Ramblers and Buccaneers are looking to rebound with a win after last weekend. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Gentile Arena.
Tuesday's game can be listened to on the Rambler Sports Network with Scott Sudikoff (PXP) and Christian Thomas (Analyst). Listen on the Go Ramblers App, Varsity Network App or LoyolaRamblers.com with pregame coverage starting 20 minutes prior to tip-off.
Quick Hits
•
Philip Alston recorded another career night for the Ramblers at South Florida over the weekend. The senior forward dropped 27 points on 10-of-16 from with field with two threes. He was 5-of-7 at the line and added five rebounds. The 27 points is a Division I career-high for Alston.
• It was the sixth 20-point performance from a Rambler this season, and Alston's second straight after he scored 25 against Goshen College. Over his 16 minutes on the court, Alston went 9-of-11 from the field and 6-of-7 at the line. He tallied three boards and a block.
• At USF,
Braden Norris tied his season-high seven assists. He's dished out seven helpers three times this season and has eight games with at least five assists this season. Norris is averaging 5.5 apg, tying first in the league and ranking 34th in the country.
•
Miles Rubin blocked four shots against the Bulls, falling just one shy of his career-high. His 27 total blocks this year is ninth in the country.
• Thirteen Ramblers scored in the 115-64 win over Goshen last week. In addition to Alston,
Jayden Dawson,
Sheldon Edwards, and
Trey Lewis scored double-figures. It marked a career-high for Lewis who scored 10 on 4-of-9 from the field with two three-pointers.
• In conference rankings, the Ramblers are tied third averaging 9.2 three-pointers per game. Edwards (7th),
Des Watson (17th), and
Greg Dolan (20th) sit in the A10's top-25 in three-point field goal percentage.
• Head coach
Drew Valentine is in his third season at the helm. He holds a 41-34 overall career record.
Scouting Charleston Southern
Charleston Southern is 3-7 on the year after dropping its last two games. The Buccaneers are 0-5 on the road as they head to Chicago Tuesday. CSU picked up their last win at home vs. South Carolina State, 66-64. The Buccaneers also have wins vs. Toccoa Falls and Johnson & Wales this season.
RJ Johnson leads the Bucs scoring 17.7 points per game. He's shooting over 48 percent from the field and nearly 43 percent from three point range with 15 made from deep this year. Johnson has scored at least 10 points in all but one game this season, including four 20-point performances. He scored a season-high 27 points at North Alabama. Johnson also leads CSU with 2.6 assists per game
Associate head coach Saah Nimley stepped up as interim head coach on Nov. 30. He is 1-2 since leading the program.
Series History
This marks the first meeting between the Ramblers and Buccaneers.
