Men’s Basketball Wins Back-and-Forth Battle with Princeton 73-68

Loyola men’s basketball defeated Princeton University to claim their second win in a row 73-68. Redshirt third-year guard Justin Moore took charge for the Ramblers, dropping 21 points in the matchup, the third time this season he’s recorded over 20 points. Princeton’s second-year guard Jack Stanton led the Tigers with 14. 

With momentum building for the Ramblers and keeping their undefeated record against Princeton, third-year center Miles Rubin said the energy of the team is positive and hopes it’ll remain that way.

“The vibes are good,” Rubin said. “You have to be happy about a win. If we keep on stacking wins, as a team, our vibe is going to be way better.” 

The Ramblers started the game on a 5-0 run with a jumper from third-year guard Deywilk Tavarez and a 3-pointer from second-year guard Kayde Dotson. The Tigers ensued a 12-0 run, with third-year forward Jackson Hicke making three consecutive baskets and two 3-pointers from second-year forward CJ Happy and Hicke. 

Head coach Drew Valentine said the team has grown a lot from fighting through the adversity faced in these positions, something the team has been working on throughout the season. 

“There’s more togetherness in the huddles,” Valentine said. “The collective group is like, ‘let’s make the next play, we just gotta turn up our energy, we gotta get it back.’ There’s more talk like Loyola teams in the past.” 

Fourth-year forward Joshua Ola-Joseph broke the Rambler drought with a layup, which was countered by Hicke. Just under three minutes of scoreless play went by before Moore drove in a layup to make it 14-9 in favor of Princeton.

First-year Tiger forward Sebastian Whitfield drained a 3-pointer, and Hicke hit a jumper before fourth-year center Alexander Richardson slammed a dunk off a pass from Moore. A completed three-point play from Princeton’s third-year forward Jacob Huggins brought the game to 22-11. 

Dotson hit a layup and first-year guard Chuck Love III drained an open three to give the Ramblers some momentum. Consecutive layups from Ola-Joseph and Moore brought it to a two-point game, and fourth-year guard Kymany Houinsou tied it at 22 with a layup. 

Stanton reclaimed the advantage for Princeton with a 3-pointer before Dotson tied it again with one of his own. The Ramblers got the lead back after a layup from Rubin, but the Tigers stole it again after a Stanton three. A three from Dotson ended the first half at 30-28 in favor of the Ramblers. 

At halftime, a surprise appearance from Loyola’s women’s basketball coaching staff shocked the crowd in Gentile Arena. After a brief minute speaking with the crowd, head coach Allison Guth pulled forward assistant coach Mai-Loni Henson, whose partner had secretly planned to propose to her. Fans in attendance were cheering, as Henson said yes. 

Moore opened the second half with two made free throws, immediately countered by a 3-pointer from Princeton’s first-year guard Landon Clarke. Whitfield and Tavarez each took successful trips to the line before Moore drove home a layup for a 36-33 Loyola advantage. 

Whitfield hit a three to tie it as Houinsou made two free throws to keep the lead. Another Princeton three-point play — this time from Happy — gave the Tigers the advantage. Rubin quickly took it back with a dunk, making it a 40-39 game. 

Princeton’s first-year forward Jacob Hammond drove in a layup, which Moore cancelled out with two at the line before Happy hit a jumper. Rubin got fouled while driving in a layup and failed to complete the three-point play. On the next possession, Rubin’s block was ruled goaltending, giving Princeton the 45-44 lead. 

Ola-Joseph drove in a layup before Stanton made three free throws to distance themselves from the Ramblers. Another free throw from Happy gave the Tigers a three-point advantage, which Moore combated with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 49 and force a Princeton timeout. 

Clarke added two more at the line before Moore hit a turnaround jumper. The Tigers took the lead again with a layup from Hammond and Rubin tied it at 53 with a layup. Off of his missed and-one, Ola-Joseph snagged the rebound and sent in a layup to reclaim the advantage. 

Moore stole the Tigers’ possession and drove in a layup to increase the Rambler lead before he converted on a three-point play. Rubin added a layup to the board before Stanton took a successful trip to the line, followed by a free throw from Rubin. 

Dotson increased Loyola’s lead to 10 with two made at the line before Princeton’s first-year guard Jake Sussberg completed a three-point play. Love III cancelled out the points on the next Rambler possession with a 3-pointer to make it a 68-58 game. 

Huggins made two at the line and Moore made one. Princeton struck back with a jumper from Whitfield but remained down 69-62. Rubin’s lone free throw was matched by a Stanton three with under a minute remaining. 

Tavarez made two at the line and Houinsou made one — the final points for the Ramblers. As Princeton checked in their bench players, third-year guard Cooper Mueller hit a buzzer-beater three. The shot was good, but not enough as Loyola came out victorious 73-68. 

The Ramblers still have work to do, according to Valentine, especially on their rebounding. They out-rebounded the Tigers 35-32, but picked up only seven offensive rebounds. 

“Princeton was a team coming into the game that was in the bottom 50 in the country in offensive rebounding, and you would’ve thought they were higher than that based on how we rebounded,” Valentine said. “We have 25 misses and only get seven back. That’s not going to cut it.” 

The Ramblers continue their home stretch when they face Chicago State University Dec. 14. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. and can be streamed on Marquee Sports Network.