CHICAGO - Loyola Chicago returns to Gentile Tuesday night looking to snap a three-game skid against George Mason. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT. The Ramblers have one conference win over Rhode Island, while the Patriots have won their last seven games and sit at 4-0 in league play.
Tuesday's game will be on CBS Sports Network with Rich Waltz (PXP) and Chris Walker (Analyst) and can be listened to Rambler Sports Network with
Scott Sudikoff (PXP) and Christian Thomas (Senior Analyst).
RAMBLINGS
•
Joshua Ola-Joseph dropped a season-high 20 points at George Washington over the weekend, marking his first 20-point outing of the season and second of his career. He was 7-14 from the field. He had four threes.
•
Miles Rubin tallied his fifth double-double of the year with 15 points and 10 rebounds. He had six boards on the offensive glass. Rubin also recorded four blocks, three assists, and a steal.
•
Nic Anderson was in double-figures for the second straight game, scoring 12. He tallied six rebounds and one assist.
• Loyola opened the week at home against Davidson, falling to the Wildcats by 15. Three Ramblers scored double-figures in the loss.
• Anderson and
Kymany Houinsou scored 13 each, while
Alexander Richardson added 10. It marked season-highs for all three Ramblers.
• The Ramblers split A-10 opening week with a win at Rhode Island and close home loss to Dayton.
• On the road,
Justin Moore led all-scorers with 19 points in Loyola's win. He went 7-11 from the field and 3-4 from three-point range. Moore added a team-leading five assists and three steals.
• Rubin scored 12 for Loyola on 5-6 from the field. He grabbed five boards and added two steals and one block.
Kayde Dotson also finished in double-figures with 11 points.
• The Ramblers fell in a down-to-the-wire battle with Dayton at home, 70-68. Loyola led by as much as 13 points and shot only five free throws to Dayton's 25.
• Moore scored another 19 points for Loyola, while Dotson extended his double-figure scoring streak to seven straight games with 16 points for the Ramblers. He finished 6-16 from the field with four threes.Â
• Rubin had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. He added four blocks.
• Rubin's block total is up to 43, ranking 8th in the country and first in the A-10. His blocks per game average (2.53) ranks 14th in the nation and first in the A-10. Rubin has recorded two or more blocks in 13 of Loyola's 15 games this season.
• After losing the rebounding battle in the first six games of the year, Loyola won eight of the next nine games on the glass. Loyola faced a -3 margin in the win over Santa Clara but has since out rebounded Rhode Island by nine and Dayton by 15.
• Head coach
Drew Valentine is in his fifth season at the helm. He has compiled an 88-63 overall record as head coach.
SCOUTING GEORGE MASON
George Mason is 14-1 heading into Tuesday's game and is one of three A-10 teams still undefeated in league play at 4-0. The Patriots' lone loss was on the road at Virginia Tech back in December. George Mason has the third best scoring defense in the league as the Patriots hold their opponents to 66.8 points per game. They also hold opponents to just 40.7 percent from the field for the second best field goal percentage defense in the A-10.
Kory Mincy ranks second in the A-10 and leads the Patriots with a 16.9 scoring average. He's scored 10+ points 13 times this year, including six 20-point performances. Mincy had a career-high 29 points vs. Winthrop on Nov. 7.Â
Tony Skinn is in his third season at the helm with a 63-22 overall record.
SERIES HISTORY
The Ramblers lead the all-time series, 3-2. The Patriots picked up a win in overtime last year over the Ramblers, 58-53.Â