CHICAGO - Loyola Chicago continues home play with a Thursday night clash with Detroit Mercy. Tip-off between the Ramblers and Titans is 7 p.m. in Gentile Arena. Both teams are coming off season-opening wins.
Monday's game can be watched on Marquee Sports Network and ESPN+ with Jordan Bernfield (PXP) and Nick DiNardi (Analyst) and can be listened to Rambler Sports Network with Scott Sudikoff (PXP) and Christian Thomas (Analyst).
RAMBLINGS
• The Ramblers opened the 2024-25 slate with a 79-72 win over Chicago State Monday night. They were led by
Jayden Dawson who dropped the first 20-point performance this season. It was the third of his career. Dawson finished 7-of-17 from the field with three from deep.
•
Justin Moore and
Des Watson also added double-figure performances. Both scored 14 points.
•
Francis Nwaokorie grabbed a game-leading nine rebounds, while Watson added eight.
• Loyola is coming off a share of the Atlantic 10 Regular Season Title and 2023-24 NIT appearance last year.
• The Ramblers posted a 23-10 overall record, which was the fourth highest win improvement (+12) in the NCAA last year.
• Loyola was tabbed fifth in the A-10 Preseason Poll in early October with
Des Watson and
Miles Rubin bringing home individual honors. Watson was named a First Team selection, while Rubin was tabbed Third Team and All-Defensive.
• Watson was a Second Team honoree last season and named NABC All-District Second Team. He started all 33 games for the Ramblers last season and led Loyola in scoring with 12.6 points per game on 40.7 percent from the field. Efficient from three-point range, Watson shot 38.6 percent from the arc. He added 4.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 0.9 steals per game.
• Rubin's preseason honor comes after an All-Rookie and All-Defensive nod last year. He also earned Loyola's lone weekly award with Rookie of the Week on March 11.
• The Chicago native broke a 40-year-old record with 76 blocks in a single season, helping the Ramblers also break a four-decade old team block record. He led the country in blocked shot percentage (14.1 percent). Rubin blocked a career-high six shots vs. La Salle (March 9).
•
Justin Moore got a nod in the starting line-up in Loyola's lone exhibition against Calumet St. Joseph. He led Loyola with 16 points (6-6 FG, 2-2 3PT, 2-2 FT). He also had four steals, two assists and a block.
• Rubin started at center, posting 12 points, nine boards, five blocks, four assists, and a steal.
•
Jalen Quinn (12) and
Jayden Dawson (10) also scored double-figures, while DeLoach matched Rubin's game-high nine boards.
• Head coach
Drew Valentine enters his fourth season at the helm. He has compiled a 58-39 overall record as head coach.
SCOUTING DETROIT MERCY
The Titans sit at 1-0 after a dominant season opening win over Cleary, 91-52. The win already matches their 2023-24 total as Detroit Mercy finished last season at 1-31 overall and 1-19 in the Horizon League. The Titans didn't earn a win on the road last year, finishing 0-20. First year head coach Mark Montgomery has 11 newcomers on this season's roster, which includes eight redshirt or true freshman.
Three Titans scored double-figures in the opener. Orlando Lovejoy and Stephen Okoro scored 13 points each, while Mak Manciel added 12. Okoro crashed the glass for 10 boards to tally his first double-double of the season.
SERIES HISTORY
Loyola leads the all-time series 67-56. This will be the first meeting between the teams since the 2012-13 season. The Ramblers have dropped the last 10 games vs. the Titans.
