Hawks Completes Season Sweep of Men’s Basketball

Loyola men’s basketball lost their second match up this season against Saint Joseph’s University Feb. 21. Third-year guard Deywilk Tavarez and second-year guard Kayde Dotson each scored a team high of 14 points, while Saint Joseph’s second-year guard Jaiden Glover-Toscano and redshirt second-year guard Desear Haskins each dropped 23 points in the 75-61 win. 

Haskins scored the first points of the game two minutes in with a layup before fourth-year center Alexander Richardson tied it with a successful trip to the line. Two consecutive threes from Saint Joseph’s fourth-year guard Derek Simpson and first-year guard Austin Williford propelled the Hawks to an 8-2 lead they wouldn’t lose for the remainder of the game. 

An almost three minute drought plagued the court before first-year guard Nic Anderson drove in a layup for Loyola’s first field goal of the night. Glover-Toscano responded with one of his own, and redshirt first-year guard Khaafiq Myers drained a three, taking a 13-4 lead over the Ramblers. 

A jumper from third-year center Miles Rubin was met with a lone free throw by Myers. Haskins fueled the fire with a fast-break three, and Richardson calmed it with a three-point play on the other side. 

Saint Joseph’s graduate center Justice Ajogbor made one at the line before a three-point play from second-year guard Jaden Smith, claiming Saint Joseph’s first double-digit lead over the Ramblers at 21-9.

Anderson brought the Ramblers to double-digits with a layup, followed by Glover-Toscano and fourth-year guard Caleb Reese trading field goals. After being fouled on a made layup, Glover-Toscano connected on the and-one, doubling Loyola’s score at 26-13. 

Smith made two at the line, which Rubin cancelled out with a dunk. Richardson then broke a minute-and-a-half scoring drought with a layup. Fourth-year forward Xavier Amos capitalized on a steal, driving all the way for a dunk to make it a 28-19 game with under three minutes left in the first half. 

The Hawks went on a 7-0 run, credited to a Haskins layup, a Williford three and a successful trip from Simpson. Fourth-year forward Joshua Ola-Joseph scored the final points of the half and ended the Hawks’ unanswered run with one at the line, sending Saint Joseph’s into the break leading 35-20. 

Dotson scored the first points of the second half on a 3-pointer, followed by a dunk from Ajogbor and a three from Haskins. Dotson answered with another three, and a layup from Glover-Toscano was quickly cancelled out by a three from Tavarez, decreasing Saint Joseph’s lead to 42-29. 

Glover-Toscano drove in a layup before three made free throws from Ola-Joseph. Tavarez added on with a three, dropping the Hawks’ lead to single digits. 

After a Haskins layup, the Ramblers went on a seven-point run as Anderson made a free throw, Dotson drove in a layup and Rubin scored two field goals to make it only a four-point game. Two at the line and a three-point play from Glover-Toscano gave the Hawks the edge again at 51-42. 

Amos and Simpson traded field goals before a Haskins dunk, which prompted a 30-second Loyola timeout. Tavarez came out of the break with two at the line which Glover-Toscano immediately undid with a 3-pointer. 

Haskins slammed a dunk, and Tavarez and Dotson each drained a three, inching the Ramblers closer to the Hawks. Following a jumper from Glover-Toscano, the Hawks recorded two steals, each turning into a successful bucket. 

With under three minutes remaining, Dotson and Haskins traded threes. Haskins continued with his brief solo-run with a dunk, but Amos neutralized with a three, bringing the game to 71-56. 

Tavarez capitalized off a steal from Dotson and hit a 3-pointer, prompting a brief scoring drought. Simpson scored four at the line on two separate trips, ending the game in favor of the Hawks 75-61.

The Ramblers return home for Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day, being celebrated against the University of Richmond Saturday, Feb. 28. Tip off is scheduled for 3 p.m. and can be streamed on CBS Sports Network.