CHICAGO – Jayden Dawson dropped a career-high 26 points to help fuel a Rambler win over the Billikens Friday night, 78-69. It marks the 20th win for Loyola Chicago in Gentile Arena over its last 21 home games.
 
Sheldon Edwards Jr. (17), Des Watson (14), and Miles Rubin (10) added double-figure performances. Rubin made his a double-double with 11 boards. He added six assists and four blocks.
 
"Our guys did a really good job leaning into our identity today and got stops when we needed them," said head coach Drew Valentine. "They played selfless basketball and found a way to win tonight after being in a tough position. It was fun to see different guys step up at different times and make impactful plays tonight."
 
How It Happened
Watson and Dawson picked right up from last game both connecting from three-point range early for Loyola. Dawson drained his second of the game a little over three-minutes in for a seven-point lead over the Billikens, but SLU responded on a 12-0 run. Gibson Jimerson hit back-to-back threes to spark the come back, and the Billikens jumped ahead 18-13 by the mid-way point.
 
Watson snapped a seven-minute scoring drought for the Ramblers with a right-side three at the 9:08 mark, leading the Loyola on a 6-0 run. Jalen Quinn drew a flagrant foul to tie the game at the line, while Watson's hit a jumper to retake the lead. The final four minutes saw five lead changes with the Billikens leading at the break. Dawson connected on a three to close the half and get Loyola within two, 37-35.
 
The Ramblers struck first in the second half, but they couldn't shake the Billikens who used an 8-0 run to get ahead by six on a step-back three from Swope. Their largest lead of the night game on a layup from Kobe Johnson at the 14:22 mark to go up, 53-46. The edge didn't last long with eight unanswered from the Ramblers. Edwards Jr. hit a second-chance three to get within one, while Kymany Houinsou retook the lead on the next bucket, 54-53.
 
The game saw five more lead chances by the five-minute mark, but the Ramblers continued to pressure the Billikens. The final five minutes three blocks and a steal from Loyola that made an 11-0 run possible. Edwards Jr. tied the game at the line with three foul shots and then followed up with back-to-back threes, while Houinsou put the exclamation point on the stretch with a fast break dunk off the steal. Despite SLU getting within four with 1:14 to play, Loyola held on to win, 78-69.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Dawson tied his career high with 26 points on 10-16 from the field, including six threes. Its his second straight 20-point performance and fourth of the season.
- Dawson added three rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and a steal.
- Edwards Jr. scored 14 of his 17 in the second half. He went 5-7 from the field with four from deep.
- Edwards Jr. moves up to being tied fourth on the single-season charts with 74 made threes this year.
- Watson added 14 points, four boards, four assists, and two steals.
- Rubin tallied his third double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds. It is the second straight game he had 10+ rebounds.
- Rubin added four blocks and a career-high six assists.
- The Ramblers shot 43.1 percent from the field and 50 percent from three. They also finished 16-21 at the foul line.
- Loyola tallied 15 points off 12 SLU turnovers. The Ramblers also held the SLU bench scoreless.
- Coach Valentine improves to 3-0 on Valentine's Day match-ups as head coach.
 
Up Next
Loyola takes its next game on the road at Davidson on Feb. 18.