Men’s Basketball Squeezes by Rhode Island 81-77

The Loyola men’s basketball team pulled off a last-minute victory against the University of Rhode Island Jan. 15. Third-year guard Jalen Quinn recorded a season-high 17 points, just shy of the top spot, which was claimed by fourth-year guard Des Watson with 20 points. 

Rhode Island’s redshirt fourth-year Javonte Brown scored the first points of the game with a dunk two minutes in. Fourth-year forward Francis Nwaokorie immediately responded with a 3-pointer to take the lead. 

After misses from both sides, Brown and Watson each made a lone free throw. A possession later, graduate guard Sheldon Edwards Jr. made both at the line, followed by a Brown layup underneath the net. 

The next three possessions saw buckets for both the Ramblers and Rams, with third-year guard Jayden Dawson scoring a tip-in, fourth-year Rhode Island guard Jaden House making a layup and second-year center Miles Rubin hitting a jumper. 

Rubin missed two dunk attempts before he was fouled by Brown and made one at the line. Over the next seven possessions, each team scored to tie the game at 16. 

The Ramblers then went on an eight-point run to secure a 24-16 lead, with a layup and a 3-pointer from Watson and a three-point play from fourth-year forward Jalen DeLoach. 

Fourth-year Rams guard Sebastian Thomas — who played all 40 minutes of the game — sandwiched two buckets between a two-minute scoring drought, leaving a two point gap between the teams. 

Loyola responded quickly with a layup from Rubin and a steal from third-year guard Kymany Houinsou — playing in his first game back after a leg injury in early December — who passed to Watson for an open layup. 

House missed his second attempt on a one-and-one at the line, Rubin grabbed the board and found Quinn for a reverse layup, giving the Ramblers a 30-23 lead. After a Rhode Island shot clock violation, Watson added two at the line and Houinsou recorded another steal, this time assisting Nwaokorie’s dunk for a 10-point Rambler advantage. 

After a dunk from Edwards Jr., the Ramblers were plagued by a four-minute scoring drought. 

During the Loyola dry spell, second-year Rams guard Cam Estevez drained a 3-pointer and made two at the line, Thomas drove in a layup and a 3-pointer and redshirt third-year forward Drissa Traore added one at the line. 

With five seconds remaining in the half, Quinn made both free throws before Fuchs drained a buzzer-beating jumper to give the Rams a one-point advantage at 39-38 going into halftime. 

Watson opened the second half with a layup, and a minute later, Thomas added two at the line. On the next possession, DeLoach slammed a dunk after a turnover, and House added another two to maintain the Rams’ slim 43-42 lead. 

Brown turned in a successful trip to the line before Quinn and Nwaokorie made layups to take the lead back for the Ramblers. However, the advantage was short-lived, as Estevez sank a 3-pointer less than a minute later to regain control. 

Rhode Island scored five unanswered off a Thomas layup and jumper and a Brown free throw. A 3-pointer from Nwaokorie and two free throws from Edwards Jr. brought the Ramblers within two at 53-51. 

A layup from Brown, a jumper from Quinn and a Dawson 3-pointer brought back a short-lived lead for the Ramblers. The advantage changed hands five times before Brown broke the pattern with a layup at 63-60.

Following a two-minute Loyola drought, Nwaokorie drained a 3-pointer, Dawson added one at the line and DeLoach slammed a dunk to take the lead once more. Quinn made both at the line, and Watson hit a jumper to give the Ramblers a 70-69 advantage at the final media timeout. 

Watson sprung into action with a three, which Estevez matched shortly after. Watson made another jumper before DeLoach fouled out of the game, giving Thomas the opportunity to add one at the line, and shrink the gap to two. 

A jumper and two free throws from Quinn were followed by a Thomas three before Rhode Island called a timeout with just under 30 seconds remaining. 

Fouls ensued on both teams as Edwards Jr. added one at the line, shooting a one-and-one. House made one of two attempts and Quinn made one — solidifying his season high. 

A failed 3-point attempt from Lawrence ended the game with a Rambler victory at 81-77. 

Head coach Drew Valentine said he’s proud of the team for pulling out a win, especially after the team has lost six of the last eight games played. 

“After the way things been going — losing six out of eight — you got a decision to make, really just two decisions,” Valentine said. “When it comes down to it, you can either fold or you can fight, and the way that you fight is with your mentality and approach.” 

The Ramblers head on the road to face the University of Dayton Jan. 18 in Dayton, OH. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. and can be streamed on CBS Sports Network.