Men’s Basketball Stays Undefeated After Southern Utah Win

The Loyola men’s basketball team remains undefeated following a 76-72 victory over Southern Utah University Nov. 19 in Gentile Arena. Fourth-year guard Des Watson led the Ramblers with 12 points, while Southern Utah’s fourth-year guard and forward Jamir Simpson outscored everyone with 28 points. 

Within the first five minutes of play, both teams scored a combined six points. Third-year guard Kymany Houinsou made two at the free-throw line, and fourth-year Southern Utah shooting guard Dominique Ford and Simpson each made jumpers. 

Loyola jumped ahead to a 10-6 lead after third-year guard Jalen Quinn hit a jumper and graduate guard Sheldon Edwards Jr. and Watson made 3-pointers. Only Ford made a hookshot layup for the Thunderbirds. 

Southern Utah’s fourth-year forward Jeffrey Langston Jr. and fourth-year guard Hercy Miller added four to the board after two consecutive trips to the line. Fourth-year forward Jalen DeLoach responded with four of his own off a slam dunk and a jumper. Quinn got the Loyola lead back after sinking a 3-pointer prior to a timeout on the court. 

Watson made two at the line before Simpson and Quinn traded layups for a 21-15 Loyola lead. Houinsou started a six-point Rambler scoring run with a layup, followed by a lone free throw by Watson and a three by third-year guard Jayden Dawson. 

Simpson ended the run after sending in two at the free-throw line. After a timeout was called with under four minutes left, Simpson added two more at the line, cutting the Loyola lead to 29-24. 

Watson got control on the next possession and drained a 3-pointer. Fourth-year Thunderbird forward Jamari Sibley had a successful trip to the line, while Quinn was unsuccessful with attempts at the free-throw line and beyond the arc. 

Edwards Jr. broke the minute-and-a-half Loyola scoring drought with a 3-pointer, which was answered with a layup from Sibley, sending both teams into the half with Loyola ahead 35-32. 

Watson opened second-half scoring at the line, making one. Third-year Thunderbird guard Tavi Jackson and second-year center Miles Rubin traded jump shots before Simpson completed a layup and a jumper on consecutive possessions for a 40-38 Thunderbird lead. 

Fourth-year forward Francis Nwaokorie tied the game with a layup, which was short-lived as Simpson made his own on the next possession. Houinsou and third-year guard Justin Moore added three points at the line, DeLoach sent in a jumper and Houinsou made a 3-pointer to regain the lead 48-42 at the timeout. 

The Loyola bench was given a technical foul with 12 minutes remaining after arguing with the referees over a foul call. Simpson was awarded free throws and made one before capitalizing on a jumper to decrease the Rambler lead to three. 

Dawson had a successful trip at the line before Simpson added four consecutive points. Jackson snatched the lead back for the Thunderbirds with a layup which was immediately answered with a dunk by Rubin. 

Simpson and Edwards Jr. traded layups before Nwaokorie made two at the line. DeLoach added a dunk and jumper to the board for the Ramblers before another technical foul was given to head coach Drew Valentine. 

Ford received the opportunity and converted the extra point for the Thunderbirds. Houinsou sent in a dunk, sending an already rowdy Gentile Arena into a frenzy. 

Ford went on a nine-point solo scoring run, sinking two 3-pointers and making three at the line to gain a one-point advantage for the Thunderbirds. Nwaokorie took the lead back after making a three of his own, and Moore and Watson added a cushion with a jumper and layup before the last timeout was called on the court with three and a half minutes remaining. 

The game ended with four consecutive fouls called, with Jackson, Rubin, Sibley and Moore all taking trips to the line. The Thunderbirds were able to add two points to the board as opposed to Loyola’s three, securing the 76-72 win for the Ramblers. 

Valentine said the team has made improvements to their overall performance, which will be a major factor when conference play comes around. 

“I thought we had some adjustments today,” Valentine said. “I thought you saw some zone defense that kind of slowed them up a little bit today. Just proud of our guys and how they stepped up.” 

The Ramblers remain in Gentile Arena for their next matchup against the University of Tulsa Nov. 23 at 5 p.m. Viewers can stream the game on Marquee Sports Network and ESPN+.