Men’s Basketball Squeezes Past South Florida for 8-0 Record

The Loyola men’s basketball team narrowly defeated the University of South Florida 74-72 Dec. 7. Fourth-year guard Des Watson took charge for the Ramblers and scored 14 points. Second-year guard Jayden Reid led with 23 points for the Bulls.  

Following the win, the Ramblers sit at a comfortable 8-0 record. The last time Loyola started a season on an eight-game winning streak was the 1962-63 season, when they won the National Championship. 

Things started hot for the Ramblers — after winning the tipoff, second-year center Miles Rubin stole the ball from the Bulls offense on the following possession and took it all the way down the court for the first points of the game. 

After missing a 3-pointer, third-year guard Jayden Dawson went down with an ankle injury. Head coach Drew Valentine said Dawson will be out for at least a week depending on x-ray results. 

Watson went to the line and added two before Reid converted on his second layup attempt of the possession to keep the game tied. Fourth-year forward Jamille Reynolds claimed the lead for the Bulls with a dunk, but third-year guard Kymany Houinsou responded with a driving layup to keep the game tied at six. 

Another back-and-forth commenced, with Reid and third-year guard Justin Moore trading jumpers. South Florida’s redshirt third-year guard Kobe Knox made a reverse layup to take a 10-8 lead into a timeout. 

South Florida’s graduate guard Kasen Jennings and third-year forward De’Ante Green kept the Bulls’ momentum going with four consecutive points. Graduate guard Sheldon Edwards Jr. broke their brief run with a dunk to keep the Ramblers within four. 

After a free throw by fourth-year forward Francis Nwaokorie was called off, Jennings hit a 3-pointer and third-year guard Jalen Quinn made a jumper. 

The Ramblers were called for a shot clock violation after Houinsou mistimed a 3-pointer, giving Jennings an opportunity to capitalize with a three of his own. 

The Ramblers tried to close the gap with a pass from Houinsou to Rubin, who captivated Gentile Arena with a signature dunk. Housinou slammed one of his own on the next possession, with Loyola behind 20-16. 

Quinn and Watson built upon the Rambler run, adding a layup and a 3-pointer to reclaim a short-lived lead squashed by a Jennings layup. Reid helped with a 3-pointer before a Rubin dunk. Reynolds made a dunk of his own before a media timeout was called, with the Bulls leading 27-23. 

Reynolds added two more at the line after being fouled by Nwaokorie. Moore made a layup off a turnover, and Reid made another three on the next possession. Graduate South Florida guard Brandon Stroud added on at the line and Reynolds was left wide open for a dunk, giving the Bulls a 35-27 advantage. 

Edwards Jr. broke the Bulls’ streak with a 3-pointer, but South Florida stayed ahead on a layup by Stroud. Nwaokorie and Moore closed the gap slightly with a three and a layup before Stroud ended the half with a free throw, putting the Bulls ahead 38-35.

Edwards Jr. opened the second half with a 3-pointer to tie the game. The teams traded buckets until Quinn made a layup from underneath the net and added two at the line. He then added another layup on the next possession for a 53-50 Rambler lead. 

Redshirt second-year guard Jimmie Williams and Stroud tied the game at 54 with free throws and a reverse layup. Jennings and graduate guard Quincy Ademokoya kept the streak going with two 3-pointers to recover the Bulls’ lead. 

After adding two from a one-and-one opportunity, Houinsou slammed in another dunk, leaving just a point between the squads. Watson took the lead with a jumper, but it was short lived as Reynolds made another layup from under the net. 

Edwards Jr. closed a four-point advantage to one with a three, but Stroud capitalized on a three-point play, keeping distance between the two teams. 

After Watson made two at the line, Valentine encouraged the crowd to get hype and urged Gentile Arena to their feet with just two minutes left to play. Moore tied the game at 69 with two free throws, exciting the crowd even more. 

Houinsou fouled Ademokoya, who made both attempts to reclaim the lead, before South Florida called a timeout. With 30 seconds remaining, Watson recovered the ball, tricked the Bulls’ defense and drained a corner three to take a 72-71 lead. 

Watson said the support of his team boosted his confidence and kept him on-line during the shot. 

“I know that my shot wasn’t falling all night,” Watson said. “But I believe in myself. I believe in my work and I believe in my teammates, so I know they have my back.” 

Reid passed the ball out of bounds, giving the Ramblers a chance with five seconds left on the clock. Valentine called a timeout to regroup before Quinn was sent to the line where he made both. 

With two seconds left, Quinn fouled Reid, who was given a one-and-one chance. He made the first bucket but missed the second. Reynolds picked up the rebound and attempted a last chance layup, but it fell off the rim and into Houinsou’s hands, securing the Rambler win 74-72. 

While they struggled throughout the game, Valentine said the team is working through their mistakes and building their identity. 

“Our identity needs to be physicality, athleticism, defense and then playing offense with pace and letting our player movement, body movement, unselfishness and letting our good players play freely within that,” Valentine said. 

The Ramblers hit the road for their next game against the University of San Francisco, playing the third of three games at MKE Tip-Off at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. The game is scheduled for Dec. 15 at 5:30 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.