Men’s Basketball Defeats Kent State, Punching Ticket to Indianapolis

The Loyola men’s basketball team took down Kent State University 72-62 in the quarterfinal round of the National Invitation Tournament March 26. This win signifies the 17th win in Gentile Arena this season, setting a new record for Loyola. The Ramblers will advance to the semifinals, which will take place at the Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. 

Second-year center Miles Rubin led all scorers in the game with 18 points, while Kent State’s fourth-year guard Jalen Sullinger tabbed 12 for the Golden Flashes. 

Sullinger started the game with a layup after the Golden Flashes grabbed the opening tipoff. Rubin got the Ramblers on the board with a dunk, which was immediately met with a jumper by Kent State redshirt fourth-year forward VonCameron Davis. 

The back-and-forth continued over the next few possessions, with the Ramblers answering every Kent State score until the game was tied at 12. Third-year Kent State forward Delrecco Gillespie let the ball go out of bounds, giving Loyola possession, and third-year guard Jalen Quinn drained a 3-pointer for the Ramblers’ first lead of the night. 

The Golden Flashes snatched the lead back after second-year guard Cian Medley completed a three-point play and Davis made two at the line. On Loyola’s next two possessions, graduate guard Sheldon Edwards Jr. made a three and fourth-year guard Des Watson made a layup to put the Ramblers ahead by three. 

Almost two minutes of scoreless play afflicted the teams until Gillespie made a tip-in layup and broke the drought with 11 minutes remaining in the first half. 

Following another two-minute scoring drought, Kent State’s fourth-year guard Marquis Barnett regained a short-lived lead with a jumper, as Quinn stole the ball from the Golden Flashes offense on the following possession and put it in the net for a 22-21 score. 

Kent State’s redshirt second-year guard Jamal Sumlin and fourth-year forward Jalen DeLoach traded jumpers and Rubin made a slam dunk before another brief period of scoreless back-and-forth. Sumlin hit a jumper and Rubin sent in a layup to maintain the three-point gap with three minutes remaining in the half. 

DeLoach slammed a dunk before the Golden Flashes added five points in three trips to the line by Barnett, Medley and Gillespie to tie it at 30. 

A jumper from Rubin alongside two free throws from fourth-year forward Francis Nwaokorie put the Ramblers ahead, but a 3-pointer by Sullinger quickly closed the gap to one again. 

Edwards Jr. — who was fouled mid-three — made three free throws and Rubin recorded a block on the other end, giving the Ramblers a narrow 37-33 advantage as the teams entered halftime. 

Watson opened scoring in the second half with a layup which Gillespie matched on the next possession. Rubin added one at the line before third-year guard Jayden Dawson — coming off a career-high 35-point game — and Quinn hit back-to-back threes, forcing a Kent State timeout with the Ramblers ahead 46-35. 

Offenses found their rhythm over the next six possessions, including a dunk by DeLoach which he received from a behind the back pass from Watson. Edwards Jr. kept Loyola on top 55-41 with a three.

A tip-in layup by DeLoach was met with jumper traded between Sumlin and Nwaokorie to make it 61-44

Sumlin made two at the line before a Rubin dunk and a Barnett layup. Nwaokorie had his own successful trip to the line and Dawson drained a 3-pointer, leading Kent State to call a timeout with Loyola ahead 67-48. 

Loyola called a timeout shortly after three free throws between Gillespie and Medley and a jumper by Sumlin made it 67-53.

Davis fouled out of the game with six and a half minutes remaining in the half, starting seven scoreless possessions for both teams. A jumper from Gillespie got Kent State back into the game. 

Sullinger hit a three, which was matched with a three-point play by Rubin, who made another dunk on the next possession. Sullinger made a layup before Gillespie hit two free throws — the last points in the game. 

As the clock counted down, Gentile Arena broke into a “LUC” chant, initiating the win celebration a minute early. The cheers came from an almost sold-out crowd, part of an electric environment to play in, according to head coach Drew Valentine. 

“The energy in the arena was through the roof,” Valentine said. “Our students show up and they’re awesome. Everyone is smiling. Everyone is having fun. Tonight was just a great environment.” 

It’s been 10 years since the Ramblers hosted a postseason game, which hyped up the team, according to Rubin and Dawson. 

“It means a lot — we love our crowd, we love playing at home and it gives us a boost of energy,” Rubin said. 

The Ramblers will make the trip to Indianapolis and take on the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga in the semifinal round of the NIT. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN.