HONOLULU – Miles Rubin and Sheldon Edwards Jr. erupted for 21 and 20 points, respectively. It marks a career-high and first 20-point outing for Rubin and second straight for Edwards Jr. Despite their efforts, Loyola Chicago still came up short to Oakland, 72-71.
 
Loyola sits at 9-2 overall and moves on to play Charleston at 4:30 p.m. CT on Dec. 23.
 
"I don't think it was necessarily just the rebounding today. There were 50-50 loose balls that Oakland came up with," said head coach Drew Valentine. "Our focus has to be towards how do we not let that happen in a game. So much of this is controllable. I am not happy with the result today."
 
How It Happened
Loyola faced scoreless droughts in the first and saw its first two-minute stretch without a field goal within the first five minutes. Sheldon Edwards Jr. drove in for a fast break layup at the 15:10 mark to end the drought and put the Ramblers up, 6-5. Oakland pulled away 12-6 on a 7-0 run that spanned nearly three minutes.
 
The Ramblers got within two on their own 7-0 run. Miles Rubin scored four of the seven, while Edwards Jr. drained a three with 2:08 to play for a Loyola lead, 27-26. The Grizzlies closed the half with seven unanswered points to take a six-point lead into the break, 33-27.
 
Loyola got to work in the second, looking to erase the deficit. Des Watson and Edwards Jr. cut the lead down to one on two occasions before Rubin had back-to-back buckets in the paint inside the sixth minute of play to tie the game, 43-43.
 
Oakland would remain in control, eventually building the lead to double-figures by the 2:32 mark with a three from Malcolm Christi and second-chance layup by Tuburu Naivalurua. The Ramblers didn't give up, rallying back for a one-point lead on an 11-0 run. Edwards Jr. sparked the rally with a transition three, while Jalen Quinn had two drives inside. Rubin's dunk with 21 seconds to play capped the stretch and gave the Ramblers the lead, 71-70. Oakland managed an offensive board in the final second for a layup to snag the win, 72-71.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Rubin became the fourth Rambler with a 20-point game this season and set a new career-high in points with 21. He was 9-of-11 from the field. He miss a double-double with nine rebounds and added two blocks and an assist.
- Edwards Jr. had 22 earlier this week vs. Canisius. He followed up with 20 points tonight.
- The last time two Ramblers dropped 20 in a game together was at Rhode Island last season (Alston & Adelekun with 21 each).
- Francis Nwaokorie scored 11 points for the Ramblers, while Jalen Quinn added 10. Nwaokorie grabbed five boards and Quinn six.
- Watson led the Ramblers with five assists and two steals.
- Loyola shot over 49 percent from the field. Edwards Jr. made six of the team's seven threes on the night.
 
Up Next
Diamond Head Classic action continues. Loyola will play Charleston at 4:30 p.m. CT on Dec. 23. The game will air on ESPNU.