Ramblers Come Back Against Saint Joseph’s in Tough Second Half

The Loyola men’s basketball team improved their Atlantic 10 conference record to 3-1 after a close 78-75 win against Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia Saturday, Jan. 13.

Second-year guard Jayden Dawson led the Ramblers with 20 points followed closely by fourth-year forward Philip Alston who scored 18. Third-year guard Erik Reynolds II took charge for the Hawks with 26 points. 

Dawson opened up the scoring 20 seconds in with a three, which wasn’t responded to until two minutes later with a layup by Saint Joseph’s redshirt first-year center Christ Essandoko. Third-year forward Kacper Klaczek gave the Hawks the lead with a layup. Alston and graduate forward Patrick Mwamba picked up the momentum for the Ramblers, adding eight points and setting the score at 11-4. 

Third-year Hawk guard Lynn Greer III, who has 59 career points against Loyola, Reynolds II and first-year guard Xzayvier Brown evened it at 11. Back to back three-pointers from graduate guard Braden Norris and Xzayvier Brown kept it even at 14, then Dawson and third-year guard Des Watson gave the lead back to the Ramblers at 19-14. 

Xzayvier Brown and Norris traded three-pointers again and Watson added two at the line. The Hawks kept pushing and brought the game within one going into an official timeout, where Reynolds II took the lead for Saint Joseph’s with a jumper and an and-one. Both teams went on a two minute scoring drought which ended with a three from graduate forward Dame Adelekun, making it even at 29. 

Norris and graduate Hawks guard Cameron Brown added three-pointers to keep it tied before Dawson sank two threes taking the lead back for Loyola. Xzayvier Brown hit a jumper and first-year center Miles Rubin made one at the line, putting the Ramblers ahead 39-36 at halftime. 

Alston opened the scoring in the second half with a layup and added the third point on the line after being fouled. Saint Joseph’s shrunk the lead with two layups and a three going into an official timeout. Reynolds II took the lead back for the Hawks with a dunk and Cameron Brown solidified it with a three-pointer. Both teams went on a minute-and-a-half scoring break with five missed shots before Alston leveled scoring at 48 with a layup. 

A technical foul was given to graduate forward Tom Welch, giving Reynolds II an opportunity to add two. Saint Joseph’s second-year forward Rasheer Fleming made a prominent dunk while Alston was fouled and made two at the line. Reynolds II sent in his second dunk of the night which Watson answered with a jumper. 

Greer III and Essandoko kept the momentum going for Saint Joseph’s, increasing their lead by five. Adelekun and Watson attempted to close the gap before a three from Klaczek sent the teams into another official timeout. Reynolds II contributed another eight points, making the score 68-59 in favor of the Hawks with six minutes remaining. 

Alston made two free throws and a jumper, and Dawson and Adelekun both made layups to start the Rambler comeback before the last official timeout with just above four minutes left to play. 

Out of the timeout, Alston made a show-stopping alley oop dunk from an inbounds pass to put the game within one. Adelekun tied the game with a layup, but two free throws from Reynolds II took the lead back. Dawson tied the game again with a baseline jumper and brought the lead back to Loyola with a bucket from beyond the arc.

Rubin helped defensively with a monstrous block, stopping Reynolds II’s attempt at a comeback. Greer III tried to close the gap with two at the line, but Norris canceled out his points with two after being fouled, solidifying the win for the Ramblers at 78-75. 

The Ramblers barely outshot the Hawks from the field at 43.8% to 42.1%. The Hawks had 10 steals to Loyola’s seven. Both teams had four blocks each, and the Ramblers had 16 turnovers against Saint Joseph’s 13.

Head coach Drew Valentine had nothing but praise for his team and their comeback efforts. 

“I could go on and on and on about guys stepping up and playing big roles for us today,” he said. “Just so proud of the group and whoever came in. Their confidence and belief in us winning the game never waived.” 

The Ramblers will face the Billikens of Saint Louis University Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. Fans can watch the game on NBC Sports Chicago.

Featured image courtesy of Saint Joseph’s Athletics