CHICGAO - Atlantic 10 action tips off in St. Louis Wednesday night. The Ramblers and Billikens are slated for a 6 p.m. start on ESPN+. Loyola Chicago enters the match-up at 8-5 overall after picking up back-to-back wins in the final non-conference games of the year. Saint Louis looks to rebound after dropping its final non-con game at NC State.
Wednesday's game can watched on ESPN+ or 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
• Loyola closed 2023 with a dominant win against Central Michigan, 73-35. Four Ramblers scored double-figures in the win.
•
Philip Alston led all-scorers with 15 points, while
Miles Rubin dropped a career-high 13 points.
Braden Norris made four from deep for 12 points, and
Des Watson added 10 points.
• Rubin also grabbed a career-high nine rebounds and tallied four blocks in the first half. It marked the ninth game of the year with at least two blocks for the freshman center.
• Loyola held Central Michigan to just 14 first-half points Saturday. It's the lowest first-half point total for an opponent since the Ramblers held Evansville to just 12 points during the 2021-22 season. It also marks the fewest allowed points since that same game vs. the Purple Aces (31).
• As a team, the Ramblers made seven blocks against the Chippewas bringing their season average up to 5.5 blocks per game. It ranks 19th in the NCAA and second in the A10.
• Nationally, Rubin ranks 10th in total blocks (32) and blocks per game (2.5).
• Norris leads Loyola with 69 assists this season for a 5.3 apg average. The 5.3 average sits first in the league and 25th in the NCAA. Norris is approaching the 500 mark at 419 career assists with 18 regular season games to go.
• In December, the Ramblers averaged 21.0 assists per game, shooting their season average of up 17.6. It's second-best in the A10 and 26th in the country.
• Head coach
Drew Valentine is in his third season at the helm. He holds a 43-34 overall career record.
Scouting Saint Louis
The Billikens closed non-conference play with a 7-6 overall record after dropping the final contest at NC State back on Dec. 20. Saint Louis has been solid on its home court with a 6-1 record. The lone loss was against Utah State. The Billikens have found success from the arc this year shooting 37.7 percent to rank 33rd nationally and third in the A10.
Through 13 games, Gibson Jimerson is averaging 16.1 points per game on 40.3 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point range. Jimerson posted an eight-game double-figure scoring streak from Nov. 20 to Dec. 16. He scored a season-high 28 points (6-16 FG, 1-5 3PT, 10-11 FT) vs. Utah State. During that stretch he scored at least 20 points five times.
In his eighth season as head coach of the Billikens, Travis Ford holds a 140-95 overall record.
Series History
Saint Louis tied the all-time series after sweeping last seasons regular season series, 24-24.
