Dawson Scores 35 Points in San Francisco Revenge Game 

The Loyola men’s basketball team advanced to the National Invitation Tournament quarterfinals after defeating the University of San Francisco 77-76 in San Francisco March 23.  

Third-year guard Jayden Dawson led Loyola with a new career high of 35 points, while fourth-year guard Malik Thomas dropped 36 in the Dons’ loss. 

Dawson opened the game by draining a 3-pointer on the Ramblers’ first possession. San Francisco responded with a 12-2 run to put them firmly in the lead. Second-year forward Junjie Wang contributed the most points during the run with a layup and 3-pointer. 

The Ramblers sprang ahead with a 16-0 run, initiated by fourth-year forward Jalen DeLoach’s layup and capped off with a layup by Dawson to give the Ramblers a 21-12 advantage halfway through the first half. 

Thomas sank a 3-pointer while graduate guard Sheldon Edwards Jr. added two at the line, and Dawson made a layup before first-year guard Daniil Glazkov and fourth-year San Francisco guard Robby Beasley traded threes. 

Edwards Jr. scored two more at the line. A minute and a half later, Dawson capitalized on a jumper, following a 3-pointer by San Francisco’s graduate center Carelton Linguard Jr., to maintain the Ramblers’ 32-21 lead. 

Two at the line for Thomas followed a tip-in layup by first-year Dons guard and forward Veniamin Abosi. A jumper by Linguard Jr. and another successful trip to the line from Thomas capped off a 8-0 Dons run, making it 32-29. 

Third-year guard Jalen Quinn disrupted the Dons’ run with a jumper, but Thomas — who was fouled by Edwards Jr. mid-three — made all three at the line. Dawson added to the Ramblers’ 36-32 lead, closing the first half with a layup. 

Dawson started the second half hitting two jumpers before Linguard Jr. added a dunk and a jumper. Second-year center Miles Rubin responded with a dunk before trading layups with Thomas for a 42-38 score. 

Linguard Jr. drained a 3-pointer and Dawson made two at the line before another 3-pointer from Abosi made it a two-point game at 46-44. 

Thomas earned a one-point advantage for the Dons on a three-point play before fourth-year guard Des Watson added two at the line to regain Loyola’s lead. The squads traded the lead on the following possessions until Quinn found Dawson after a steal — who was fouled in the process — for a layup, giving the Ramblers a five-point lead at 59-54. 

With 10 minutes remaining in the second half, the Ramblers received a technical foul. Thomas went to the line and sank both shots before completing a three-point play to tie the game at 59. 

Thomas retook the lead for the Dons with a layup, but Watson tied it up at 61 with two free throws on the next possession, later adding two more after being fouled again. 

With the game tied at 63 after a successful trip to the line from Thomas, Quinn took the lead back with two free throws. Abosi made one after being fouled by Edwards Jr. while Quinn and DeLoach increased the Rambler lead to four after sinking three more at the line. 

Linguard Jr. and Dawson made a layup and a jumper to maintain the four-point gap before Thomas made two free throws. A layup by second-year guard and forward Jason Rivera-Torres tied it again at 70. 

Three additional free throws from Rivera-Torres and Thomas gave the Dons a 73-70 lead, but Dawson scored five points with a layup and 3-pointer to retake the advantage. 

Thomas responded with a three of his own before Dawson made a layup with just under a minute remaining — the last points of the game. 

A crucial Rubin block on a Thomas layup came with 41 seconds remaining. Following a Rambler timeout, a block by Abosi prevented Dawson from scoring before he missed a three. 

Thomas missed a last-second layup, sealing a 77-76 Rambler win and propelling them in the NIT to the quarterfinal round. 

Head coach Drew Valentine said despite injuries faced by both teams, it was an intense game of basketball, and he was proud of the performance both Dawson and Thomas had on the court. 

“Both teams were short-handed tonight, but we played one heck of a basketball game,” Valentine said. “Those were two of the most epic performances by Dawson and Thomas that I’ve ever been a part of. Shot making on both ends was just ridiculous. [Dawson] had a look in his eye today. He was totally locked in, and it was incredible to watch.” 

The Ramblers return to Gentile Arena Wednesday, March 26 to host Kent State University in the NIT’s quarterfinal round. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m., and the game can be streamed on ESPN2 or listened to on Rambler Sports Network.