Men’s Basketball Rides Late Surge to 81-73 Win Over George Washington

Men’s basketball wrapped up their East Coast road trip with an 81-73 victory against George Washington University Feb. 10. 

Fourth-year guard Sheldon Edwards kept up his hot shooting, finishing with 18 points while third-year guard Des Watson scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Graduate forward Dame Adelekun added 13 points while fourth-year guard James Bishop IV led the charge for the Revolutionaries with 25 points and seven assists. 

The Ramblers entered play 16-7 overall and 8-2 in conference play after picking up an 85-79 win on the other side of the Potomac River against George Mason University Feb. 7. George Washington welcomed Loyola to the Charles E. Smith Center sitting at 14-8 and 3-6 in Atlantic 10 play. 

Edwards and Watson both sank 3-pointers to get the Ramblers off to a hot start with a quick 6-0 lead. A few plays later, first-year center Miles Rubin threw down a lob tossed by Watson to keep the momentum going. 

Bishop IV helped George Washington roar back with a 3 and mid-range jumper while Edwards drained another 3-pointer to keep Loyola ahead 13-10.

Second-year guard Jalen Quinn and graduate guard Braden Norris made back-to-back shots from beyond the arc extending the Rambler lead to 19-10. First-year Revolutionary forward Darren Buchanan Jr. cut into the deficit with two scores inside before Edwards hit a transition 3-pointer to propel his team to a 24-14 lead. 

First-year George Washington guard Trey Autry connected from three while Bishop IV added two at the line, bringing the Revolutionaries within five at 26-21. Quinn scored inside off an offensive rebound while Bishop IV scored four quick points to keep it a two-possession game. 

Norris and first-year George Washington guard Jacoi Hutchinson traded 3-pointers before Adelekun was fed inside for an easy bucket making it 33-27. Fourth-year forward Philip Alston capped off the half with two free throws, sending the Ramblers to the break with a 37-29 advantage. 

Bishop IV dropped in a high arcing 3-pointer to open the half before Edwards missed a three and grabbed his own board. He drove to the rim to make it 39-32. Buchanan Jr. spurred a 6-2 George Washington run with two driving layups and two free throws to bring his team within three at 41-38. 

Rubin made two free throws and Watson set up Alston for a two-hand jam to get the Ramblers back on track up 45-38. Autry knocked in a floater and second-year George Washington guard Maximus Edwards hit a 3-pointer cutting the Loyola lead to just 49-48. 

Poor 3-point shooting plagued the Ramblers as they started the second half missing their first eight attempts from beyond the arc. 

Alston grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back up. Then, Bishop IV made a driving layup keeping the difference at one. Edwards made a corner 3-pointer to give George Washington its first lead of the game before Bishop IV made two free throws. 

Rubin got open for a dunk to give Loyola some life, but Bishop IV brought the crowd to their feet with a deep 3-pointer, giving the Revolutionaries a 58-53 lead. 

A three from Maximus Edwards a few possessions later set up George Washington with their largest lead of the game at 63-57. Bishop IV added on three at the line while Alston scored down low. Then Edwards broke through with a 3-pointer to bring the Ramblers within four down 66-62.

After Johnson went one for two at the line, Norris drained another 3-pointer, making it 67-65 with just over four minutes to play. Adelekun retook the lead for Loyola after drawing a foul as he scored underneath the basket. Bishop IV took the lead right back with a 3-pointer, making it 70-68. 

On the other end, Alston drew a double team on the block and got it across the paint to Adelekun who drew an and-one going up. He made the free throw to give the Ramblers back a one-point lead. Alston blocked Bishop IV’s shot, and on the other end, Watson drained a step back mid-range jumper to give Loyola a 73-70 lead with just under a minute and 30 seconds left. 

Once again, Adelekun drew a foul as he banked in a shot posted up on the block to extend the Loyola lead to 76-70. The Revolutionaries intentionally fouled down the stretch as the Ramblers held on and closed it out 81-73. 

The Ramblers outrebounded George Washington 45 to 38 and won the assist game with 18 to the Revolutionaries’ 11. The teams were equal in turnovers with eight each while Loyola outshot George Washington 43% to 35%. 

Loyola head coach Drew Valentine said he was glad his players stepped up down the stretch and made important plays.

“Sheldon made shots,” Valentine said. “Des went up and made free throws. Phil and Dame made plays. Credit to the players and how resilient they’ve become this season.”

Next up the Ramblers welcome Saint Joseph’s University to Gentile Arena Wednesday, Feb. 14. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and fans can catch the game streamed on NBC Sports Chicago+ and live on Rambler Sports Network radio.

Featured image by Holden Green | The Phoenix