Men’s Basketball Gets Initial Reps Against Calumet College

The Loyola men’s basketball team defeated Calumet College of St. Joseph 87-57 in an exhibition match Oct. 29. Third-year guard Justin Moore led the Ramblers with 16 points, while Calumet’s fourth-year guard J. Caleb Slawinski topped both teams with 19. 

Second-year center Miles Rubin started the game by winning the tip-off for the Ramblers. After being fouled on Loyola’s opening possession, he sunk two free throws for the first points of the night. Third-year guard Jayden Dawson followed with a driving layup on the next possession for a 4-0 Loyola lead. 

Graduate guard Sheldon Edwards Jr. and Dawson added five points to the board before Slawinski hit a 3-pointer to bring the Crimson Wave within three. 

Slawinski made an alley-oop to get the score the closest it was the entire game, but a three from Edwards kept the distance between the teams.

Slawinski and third-year guard Kymany Houinsou traded baskets before fourth-year forward Jalen DeLoach erupted with a dunk. After a technically sound offensive possession, with passes going across the court to each Loyola player, third-year guard Jalen Quinn finished the play with a layup ahead 18-10. 

Dawson sank a wide open three before Quinn received a no-look pass from fourth-year guard Des Watson and put it in the net. 

After two minutes of back-and-forth, Rubin picked up a rebound off of a miss from Edwards and slammed it home for a 27-14 lead. Watson continued to attack Calumet’s defense, making his way around them and dropping in a layup. 

Moore and Rubin double teamed Calumet’s graduate guard Zion Morgan, allowing Moore to take the ball down the court for a dunk, setting the score at 31-16 in favor of the Ramblers. 

The Crimson Wave went on an extensive scoring drought, allowing Loyola to score 14 unanswered. Slawinski broke the drought with six minutes remaining in the half with a layup. 

After the Ramblers called a timeout, Rubin and Quinn gave them six more points, while the Crimson Wave only added two before the next timeout was called. 

The first half concluded with a series of misses and defensive rebounds from both teams, with a single 3-pointer from Watson sneaking by. The Ramblers went into the break up 50-28. 

Moore opened up the second half with a layup and Rubin recorded a block on the other end of the court, causing a jump ball. Slawinski capitalized on the opportunity, increasing the score to 52-30. 

Rubin was sent to the free-throw line after being fouled on a layup attempt and made both shots. He then blocked a Slawinski shot before Moore took possession of the ball and sank a deep three. 

Slawinski and Quinn added buckets to their respective totals before a timeout was called at 59-35, in favor of the Ramblers. 

The Crimson Wave scored four unanswered, courtesy of Morgan and Slawinski, while the Ramblers went on a two minute scoring drought. After a timeout with 12 minutes left in the second half, the Ramblers sprang back into action, as Moore stole the ball from the Calumet offense and dunked on them. 

Houinsou kept the momentum going and blocked Morgan’s dunk attempt, while Rubin stole a pass from the Calumet offense and slammed the ball himself, putting the Ramblers ahead 67-42. 

With just under eight minutes remaining, Watson stole the ball and sent in an effortless layup with the Ramblers now leading 72-45. 

Calumet’s defense was caught lacking as Moore was fouled while attempting a layup, securing two more points for the Ramblers. The Crimson Wave offense managed a bit more scoring as fourth-year Calumet forward Antonio Buckley made a 3-pointer. 

As the clock ran out and Loyola remained ahead, head coach Drew Valentine made sure every player on the bench was able to record minutes in the game. First-year guards Seifeldin Hendawy, Jack Turner and Daniil Glazkov were able to make significant contact with the ball and provide offensive help. 

The game concluded after first-year forward Brayden Young made his second dunk of the night, recording a 87-57 win for Loyola. 

The Ramblers officially open their season in Gentile Arena Nov. 4, when they take on Chicago State University. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and the game can be streamed on Marquee Sports Network.