Men’s Basketball Breaks 100 in Exhibition Game Against Trinity Christian

The Loyola men’s basketball team defeated the Trolls of Trinity Christian College 104-44 in their first exhibition match of the season Oct. 29. Fourth-year forward Philip Alston led the Ramblers with 17 points ahead of newcomers graduate forward Patrick Mwamba and first-year center Miles Rubin with 13 and 11 points, respectively. 

Rubin won the tip-off for the Ramblers, soaring over Trinity’s third-year forward Bryce Simpson. Within the first 15 seconds, Alston scored a field goal in the paint while being fouled by third-year forward Tyrone Smith. Alston made his free throw, putting the Ramblers up by three. 

Third-year guard Des Watson blocked a field goal attempt by Trolls’ first-year guard Danny Staskunas, which was rebounded by graduate guard Greg Dolan and passed to graduate guard Braden Norris for a missed three-point attempt. 

After a foul by Dolan against Simpson, an offensive rebound was made by third-year Jonny Dieck to Staskunas who tied the score at three with a second chance jumpshot. 

Dolan made his first basket as a Rambler after a defensive rebound by Norris put him on a fast break up the court, breaking the tie for Loyola at 5-3. 

Alston’s signature dunk attempted to make a comeback after a turnover but was missed, just passing the rim. Graduate forward Tom Welch picked up the rebound and scored the second chance layup, increasing the Ramblers’ lead by four. 

Mwamba sent a dunk into the net from the Ramblers off of a stolen pass from Staskunas, putting the Ramblers ahead 11-3 going into a timeout called by Trinity. 

The Ramblers kept pushing ahead of the Trolls, with a dunk from Rubin and Alston and field goals by second-year guard Jalen Quinn and Alston before Rubin received his first foul of the night, heading into the media time out with the Ramblers ahead 21-4. 

Watson and third-year guard Ben Schweiger took multiple three-point attempts but none of them were capitalized on until a pass from Dolan ended in the hands of Watson for a field goal. 

The dynamic between the new additions and returning team members shined bright as Dolan made assists for a Norris three-pointer and a Welch dunk. Alston missed a three-pointer that was picked up by third-year guard Colton Schutt for a defensive rebound which was passed to Staskunas for his own three-pointer, raising the score to 28-12. 

Alston lost the ball, but it was picked up by Norris who earned an assist after he hit Quinn for a three-pointer. Alston redeemed himself on the line by making a free throw, helping the Ramblers stay ahead 31-12 going into a media timeout.  

Rubin remained a key player in the game, blocking a layup from fourth-year guard and forward Dustin Hudak. Alston scored a field goal and an and-one to increase the Rambler lead. Nine points were collected between Norris and Mwamba on three-pointers, combined with a field goal by Watson had the Ramblers sitting comfortably at 46-22. 

The Ramblers scored 10 additional points from a Dolan three-pointer, a layup from Quinn and a rebound to field goal from Welch. In the last three seconds, Dolan hit another three-pointer to send the Ramblers ahead 56-25 into halftime. 

Head coach Drew Valentine said the team was comfortable going into the second half, adding there was nothing he would change about the team this game. 

“We were up by 30 at half and came up as a team that was trying to put their foot on the gas pedal, which is hard to do against an opponent like that,” Valentine said. “So that was encouraging to see. A lot of good tonight.”

Alston kicked off the second half with a field goal and an and-one attempt that was rebounded by Dieck. Rubin received a pass from Norris, putting the Ramblers ahead by four within a minute of play. 

Rubin’s second dunk of the night came off of a pass from Dolan, putting the score at 62-25. 

The Dolan-Rubin power duo teamed up for another dunk before Watson was fouled and made two for the Ramblers. 

A few possessions later Mwamba faked a pass to Watson, tricking the Trolls defenders and passed the ball to Norris, who sunk a three-pointer for the Ramblers. A field goal from Trolls fourth-year guard Malachi Peasley and Welch and a layup from Mwamba came before a media timeout was called at 75-27. 

The game traveled up and down the court multiple times before Schweiger eventually made a layup off a fast break. Staskunas pushed for the Trolls making a three-pointer which was quickly repeated by Mwamba, making the score 83-32 going into a timeout.

A rebound by Watson led to a field goal attempt that was interrupted by a foul by Hudak. Watson made up his missed points from the previous play on the line, making both free throws. Simpson had a steal and multiple field goal attempts but couldn’t capitalize for the Trolls.

Following a media timeout, second-year guard Caleb Reese hit a free throw to earn his first ever collegiate points. 

Hunter started a run for the Trolls by sinking a three-pointer, and third-year guard Jadon Williams made a free throw. Fourth-year guard Sheldon Edwards made two for the Ramblers before graduate forward Dame Adelekun scored a field goal, making the score 94-43 at the timeout. 

Second-year guard Trey Lewis made two back-to-back layups before third-year Will Smythe made a driving layup — the Ramblers’ 100th point. The crowd in Gentile Arena roared, celebrating with the team. Lewis and Smythe kept their heat as both made additional layups to end the game at 104-44. 

Alston commented after the game about the effort the Ramblers put out during the game.

“Like we said, we gotta play like the Rambler way, and our culture is strong,” he said. “So we gotta just play it like another game, don’t care who the name is or who we are playing — just play the game.”

Alston said the team fits together well and there is more depth this year. 

The Ramblers are set to play their next game at Wintrust Arena in Chicago’s South Loop where they will take on Florida Atlantic University as a part of the Barstool Invitational. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and broadcast information has yet to be released. 

Featured image by Ryan Pittman | The Phoenix