Senior Night Success: Men’s Basketball Defeats George Washington 68-62

Loyola men’s basketball concluded their regular season with a 68-62 win over George Washington University. Second-year guard Kayde Dotson led the Ramblers with a 17 point showing, and George Washington’s redshirt third-year forward Garrett Johnson came off the bench scoring 17. 

Before the game, the Ramblers celebrated five graduating fourth-years who are ending their time at Loyola. Guards Kymany Houinsou and Caleb Reese, forwards Zachary Royster and Joshua Ola-Joseph and center Alexander Richardson were all honored with a framed jersey for their accomplishments at Loyola. 

Head coach Drew Valentine said he was happy to send the seniors off with a win and is proud of everything they each gave to Loyola. 

“I want to thank our seniors for everything,” Valentine said. “Whether they’ve been here for one year or multiple years, what they’ve meant for me in the program and having a connection to those guys moving forward for the rest of our lives is going to be incredibly important for the program and the culture itself.” 

The first half started slow for both teams. The Revolutionaries were the first on the board, courtesy of a 3-pointer from third-year guard Jean Aranguren two minutes in. The Ramblers wouldn’t get on the board until after the first media timeout, when first-year guard Nic Anderson went coast to coast for a layup six minutes into the game. 

The pace picked up from there, with George Washington’s graduate forward Tyrone Marshall Jr. slamming a dunk, followed by a dunk from Ola-Joseph. Johnson made two at the line and graduate forward Luke Hunger completed a three-point play, giving the Revolutionaries a 10-4 lead. 

Following a two minute scoring drought, George Washington’s redshirt fourth-year center Rafael Castro and third-year center Miles Rubin traded field goals. Third-year Revolutionaries guard Trey Autry responded with a three to take a 15-6 lead. 

Two at the line from fourth-year forward Xavier Amos — who wasn’t celebrated at Senior Night due to an extra year of eligibility — were met with a layup from Anderson. After a dunk from Hunger, Anderson inched the Ramblers closer to the lead with a 3-pointer. 

A driving layup from Dotson and three made free throws from third-year guard Deywilk Tavarez gave the Ramblers the lead which they wouldn’t lose for the rest of the game. Tavarez kept his momentum going with a 3-pointer, claiming a 21-17 lead. 

Johnson responded with a three of his own before Amos stole a possession and drove in a layup. Redshirt second-year Revolutionaries guard Christian Jones tied it at 23 with a three, but Amos countered with one of his own to maintain the Loyola lead. 

Johnson hit a reverse layup, and Amos made a floater before Rubin recorded his first of three blocks of the night and forced a George Washington shot clock violation. A three from Dotson prompted a Revolutionaries timeout, which Castro capitalized on with a dunk to end the first half 31-27 with Loyola leading.

The second half started in the opposite way of the first, with nine straight scoring possessions between the teams. Jones and Amos got it going by trading threes, Castro made two at the line and Rubin hit a turnaround jumper. Castro slammed home two dunks with a Rubin jumper in between before Richardson dunked the ball himself.

Richardson added one at the line before threes from Dotson, Jones, Tavarez and Amos gave the Ramblers a 50-39 advantage and forced a George Washington timeout. 

Jones hit a jumper in time to avoid a shot clock violation before a minute of empty possessions. Anderson broke through with a layup, which Johnson canceled with a three before the Ramblers called a timeout. 

Tavarez and Jones traded 3-pointers before Dotson added one of his own. Johnson took a successful trip to the line to bring the Revolutionaries within nine.

George Washington challenged an out of bounds call, originally giving the possession to the Ramblers. After review, the call was overturned, as the ball hit Anderson on its way out. Johnson capitalized on the opportunity by hitting a three to make it a 58-52 game. 

Richardson hit a reverse layup and Marshall Jr. failed to complete a three-point play. Under a minute went by before Castro made two jumpers, just a possession away from the lead. 

Rubin recorded another block before making two at the line. After two misses from Jones, the Revolutionaries started intentionally fouling the Ramblers with under a minute left to play. 

Dotson added four points from two separate trips before Johnson tipped in an offensive board. Each team called a timeout consecutively before Dotson missed a one-and-one chance, giving George Washington the ball. 

Marshall Jr. tipped in a rebound, and Dotson closed out the night with another two at the line, ending the game with a 68-62 victory for the Ramblers.  

Following the game, Valentine said the team is ready to take on the conference tournament with the boost of momentum they’ve had in their last couple games. 

“I’m just proud of our group,” Valentine said. “Proud of the way they battled, proud of the way they haven’t given up. We got a lot of momentum going into Pittsburgh.” 

The Ramblers will attempt to make a post season run during the Atlantic 10 conference tournament starting March 11 in Pittsburgh. The Ramblers received the 14th seed and will face the University of Richmond. Tip off is scheduled for 1 p.m. and can be viewed on the USA Network.