Ramblers Fall to Billikens in Brutal 98-67 Loss

The Loyola men’s basketball team was shot down at Saint Louis University 98-67 March 1. Saint Louis redshirt fourth-year guard Gibson Jimerson and third-year center Robbie Avila combined for well over half of the Billiken’s scoring with 33 and 28 points, respectively. 

Second-year center Miles Rubin scored the first Loyola bucket of the game with a dunk, before Jimerson made a 3-pointer and third-year SLU forward Kalu Anya contributed another bucket. Third-year guard Kymany Houinsou responded with a jumper to cut the Loyola deficit to one.

Avila made both at the line, and a jumper by Billiken fourth-year guard Isaiah Swope made it 10-4 before the game’s first timeout. 

Avila went back to the line and made both shots. Two more buckets by Avila and fourth-year guard Kobe Johnson and a 3-pointer by graduate guard Sheldon Edwards Jr. continued the scoring momentum for both sides. 

Another 3-pointer by Jimerson and an additional one by first-year guard Amari McCottry lurched Saint Louis to a strong 22-7 lead.

A foul by third-year guard Jalen Quinn led Avila to make one of two free throws, followed with another successful trip to the line before third-year guard Jayden Dawson and Jimerson traded 3-pointers. 

The Ramblers shortened the gap with layups — two by fourth-year guard Des Watson and one from Houinsou. An Anya jumper and a 3-pointer by Jimerson kept the Billikens ahead 34-17. 

After a timeout, Watson took a successful trip to the line for the Ramblers. Fourth-year forward Jalen DeLoach and Anya traded layups before a DeLoach foul sent Jimerson to the line, where he made both free throws. 

Swope hit a 3-pointer and Jimerson made two at the line. Swope and Rubin swapped layups before Dawson found Rubin for a dunk while the Billikens regained their momentum with a  McCottry three. 

Rubin found Dawson for a slam dunk, followed by a series of missed offensive opportunities by both teams until Johnson broke the ice with a 3-pointer. The half ended 53-33 with a trip to the line for Dawson — making the first of two free throws — and a 3-pointer by Jimerson. 

Loyola started the second half with a Rubin layup, but a Jimerson 3-pointer gave Saint Louis the momentum back. A dunk by Houinsou and a layup by Rubin shrunk the gap to 56-41. 

Another two minutes of scoreless play ensued after Rubin made two free throws. Avila broke the drought with a 3-pointer and Quinn recorded two more points at the line after being fouled by Jimerson.

Following a three from Watson, McCottry made a layup and Jimerson had a 7-point scoring stretch with a 3-pointer, layup and jumper to continue the Billiken success. 

Jimerson and Dawson traded 3-pointers — three by Jimerson and two by Dawson — before Rubin missed both attempts at the line. Avila and Rubin swapped layups before Swope made a 3-pointer to grow the Saint Louis lead to 84-56. 

Successful trips to the line by Swope, McCottry, Avila and DeLoach added to both teams’ totals. A bad pass and turnover by first-year guard Jack Turner gave possession back to the Billikens, during which Swope made an in-paint jumper, widening the gap at 92-61.

A Loyola shot clock violation and a foul by Brockhoff sent third-year guard Caleb Reese to the line, where he made one of two free throws, ending the game at 98-67.

Head coach Drew Valentine said Saint Louis was a competitive opponent and applauded the team for their great game.

“I give our guys credit for their effort,” Valentine said. “We talked at halftime and adjusted, and they stuck with it. Sometimes it’s just not your game to win.”

The Ramblers return to Gentile for their next game and Senior Day against Davidson University March 5. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. and can be streamed on CBS Sports Network.