CHICAGO - Loyola Chicago is set for NIT round two action against San Francisco. Tip-off between the Ramblers and Dons is slated for 6 p.m. CT. Loyola looks to even the season series against USF with a win and advance in the tournament.

Sunday's game can be watched on ESPN2 with Chris Sylvester (PXP) and Jerod Haase (Analyst). The game can also be listened to Rambler Sports Network with Scott Sudikoff (PXP) and Christian Thomas (Analyst).

RAMBLINGS
• The Ramblers won their first NIT game since 1962 after downing San Jose State in the opening round, 73-70.
• Des Watson poured in 24 points on 8-15 from the field and 6-6 at the line. It marked his sixth 20-point performance of the year.
• Miles Rubin added 14 points for the Ramblers, while Francis Nwaokorie neared a double-double with eight points and nine rebounds.
• Loyola won its first ever A-10 Tournament game, beating Saint Louis in the quarterfinals, 72-64.
• Watson dropped a career-high 25 points against the Billikens. He went 7-14 from the field and 8-9 at the line.
• Jayden Dawson (12) and Sheldon Edwards Jr. (10) added double-figure performances, while Kymany Houinsou grabbed 10 boards for the second straight game.
• The Ramblers dominated the boards against VCU in the semifinals, out rebounding the Rams, 48-38. Loyola grabbed a season-high 22 offensive rebounds, led by Rubin who had five. Rubin, Houinsou, and Jalen DeLoach totaled eight rebounds each.
• For the second straight season, Rubin broke the single-season block record. He tallied one block against the Rams, marking his 77th of the year. Last year, he broke the 40-year-old record with 76 blocks.
• Edwards Jr. also broke a single-season record. His 86th three-pointer of the season set the new mark. He did it in a 22-point, 10 rebound double-double on senior day vs. Davidson. Edwards Jr. has 101 made this season after hitting two against SJSU.
• Dawson and Rubin earned All-Atlantic 10 honors. Dawson was tabbed to the second team, while Rubin collected All-Defensive honors for the second straight season.
• Rubin moved up in national rankings. He sits eighth in total blocks (79), ninth in block percentage (11.8), and 13th in blocks per game (2.3).
• Head coach Drew Valentine is in his fourth season at the helm. He has compiled a 81-50 overall record as head coach.

SCOUTING SAN FRANCISCO
The Dons enter the second round of the NIT at 25-9 overall. With a 13-5 conference record, USF took third in the West Coast Conference and fell in the semifinals to Gonzaga, 85-76. The Dons have the second-best three-point field goal percentage defense in the country, holding opponents to just 28.1 percent from the arc.

USF is led by Malik Thomas who ranks 26th in total points (640) and 30th in points per game (19.4) in the country. He's scored at least 10 points in all but three games this year and has 16 games with at least 20. He dropped a season-best 35 points against the Ramblers earlier this season. Thomas was a All-WCC First Team selection.

Chris Gerlufsen is in his third season at the helm with a 76-39 record with the Dons.