CHICAGO – Four Ramblers scored double-figures in an 87-65 win over Detroit Mercy Thursday night. Jayden Dawson, Sheldon Edwards Jr., and Jalen DeLoach had 13 points each, while Miles Rubin added 10 points.
 
Loyola Chicago improves to 2-0 on the season.
 
"I think the biggest thing with this group is understanding what our identity is going to be," said head coach Drew Valentine. "I think we've got a lot of guys that are talented that are chasing a lot of individual things and we need to just focus on winning. This group is going to win by being more disciplined than another team and being an elite defensive team. Rotationally, I have to continue figuring out who is going to impact winning the most on the floor."
 
How It Happened
Fourteen seconds into Thursday's match-up, Justin Moore fed Rubin for a dunk to make an early statement. The Titans tied the game twice and managed their first lead five minutes in on a layup from Ryan Kalambay, 11-9. Edwards Jr. reclaimed the lead with a corner three at the 13:40 mark, and the Ramblers didn't look back.
 
With just under 11 to go, Dawson sparked an 11-0 Rambler run with a deep three, while Des Watson drove in to make it a double-digit lead at 11. The gap continued to grow with Watson, Dawson, and Edwards Jr. staying hot from deep. Loyola went up 17 with 5:42 to go on Edwards Jr.'s three. Kymany Houinsou got in on the three-point action, netting one at the 1:50 mark and giving the Ramblers a 20-point edge. Loyola took a 50-33 lead into the break.
 
Detroit Mercy opened the second half with two straight turnovers before scoring the first bucket more than a minute in. Edwards Jr. helped the Ramblers keep their lead at 17, scoring their first five points of the second. The teams traded baskets with Loyola maintaining at least a 15-point advantage. Daniil Glazkov scored his first career points at the 13:34 mark to lead, 67-50.
 
Loyola held the Titans to a 10-minute stretch without a field goal, and during that stretch, the Ramblers went on a 15-7 run. A pair of free throws by Francis Nwaokorie gave Loyola their largest lead of the night at 23 with 6:04 on the clock. Loyola held on to the 20-point edge and came away on top, 87-65.
 
Inside the Box Score
- The Ramblers shot 49.2 percent from the field, following a 50-percent first half (15-30).
- Loyola also shot over 77 percent from the line (21-27).
- Loyola dominated the paint, 40-24, and converted 18 turnovers into 16 points.
- Moore filled the box score, totaling seven points, six rebounds, six assists, two steals, and a block.
- Watson added nine points, five boards, four assists, and two steals.
- In addition to his 10 points, Rubin added five rebounds, four assists, and three blocks.
- Dawson tallied a career-high four steals. Three came in the first half.
 
Up Next
Loyola will play Eureka on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Gentile Arena.