CHICAGO - Loyola Chicago wraps up a busy opening week with a game vs. Eureka College Sunday at 1 p.m. in Gentile Arena. The Ramblers beat Chicago State and Detroit Mercy earlier this week to enter Sunday's contest at 2-0. Eureka played at Indiana State Thursday where the Red Devils fell in the exhibition, 93-48.

Sunday's game can be watched on Marquee Sports Network and ESPN+ with Jordan Bernfield (PXP) and Stephond Robinson (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 two straight wins over Chicago State and Detroit Mercy.
• Loyola beat Chicago State, 79-72. The Ramblers were fueled 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.
• Against Detroit Mercy, Loyola came away with an 87-65 win. Four Ramblers scored double-figures.
• Sheldon Edwards Jr., Dawson, and Jalen DeLoach had 13 points each, while Miles Rubin scored 10.
• Moore also filled the box score with seven points, six rebounds, six assists, two steals, and a block.
• 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).
• Head coach Drew Valentine enters his fourth season at the helm. He has compiled a 60-39 overall record as head coach.

SCOUTING EUREKA
Eureka played an exhibition game at Indiana State earlier this week, falling 93-48. The Red Devils went 7-18 last season and 5-13 in conference play. They dropped all 13 road games and finished the year on a four-game losing streak.

Emaryon Byrd led the Red Devils with a 15-point outing vs. Indiana State last week. He went 6-of-12 from the field with three from deep. Jaxson Provost was the only other player in double-figures for Eureka with 11 points.

Child Wilde is in his 17th season leading the program. He has a record of 205-219 at the helm.

SERIES HISTORY
Loyola leads the all-time series, 3-0. The teams last met on Nov. 12, 2017 when the Ramblers won, 96-69.