CHICAGO (December 17, 2020) - Loyola looks to bounce back from its first setback of the 2020-21 campaign, a 77-63 decision at No. 12 Wisconsin, when it takes on No. 25 Richmond Friday at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. The last time the Ramblers faced ranked opponents in back-to-back games in the regular season was December 27 and 30, 1986, when they toppled No. 9 Illinois (83-82), before falling to No. 19 North Carolina State (97-85).

Under head coach Porter Moser, Loyola has opened a season with a 4-1 record or better through five games on five occasions - in 2018-19 (4-1), 2017-18 (5-0), 2016-17 (4-1), 2015-16 (4-1) and 2014-15 (4-1). 

Loyola is looking for its first win over a ranked opponent since a 69-68 victory against No. 24 Nevada in the NCAA Sweet 16 on March 22, 2018.

With an emphasis on shooting more three-point field goals this season, the Ramblers have launched 22.3 threes per game through four contests. Should they maintain that rate, it would set a school record for most trey attempts per game for a season. Only the 2002-03 Loyola team cast up more than 20 triples per game (20.7).

Loyola – Richmond – The Series

This is only the second meeting between Loyola and Richmond and the first since the clubs matched up at the Fort Myers Tip-Off in Fort Myers, Fla., on November 19, 2018. In the only previous meeting with the Spiders, Lucas Williamson erupted for 23 points and Marques Townes added 15, as the Ramblers improved to 4-1 on the year. Loyola shot 71 percent in the second half to erase a three-point halftime deficit.

The Ramblers are 54-80 (.403) all-time against current members of the Atlantic-10 Conference and last season split a pair of meetings with teams from that league, disposing of Saint Joseph's (85-68), but falling to Davidson (59-56). At one point in their basketball history, the Ramblers were conference mates with current A-10 programs Dayton, Duquesne, La Salle and Saint Louis.

Scouting Richmond

Richmond bounced back from its only defeat of the season (87-71 at No. 11 West Virginia) by bettering Vanderbilt, 78-67, Wednesday afternoon. Long-time Spiders coach Chris Mooney's squad has picked up wins over No. 10 Kentucky (76-64), and Northern Iowa (78-68) this year.

All five starters on this veteran-laden team average double figures in scoring, led by Blake Francis with 14.7 points per game and Nathan Cayo with 14.2 ppg. One of the top point guards in the nation is senior Jacob Gilyard, a member of the Bob Cousy Award Watch List, who contributes 10.7 ppg and 6.5 apg.

Up Next

Loyola opens Missouri Valley Conference play December 27 when it hosts Illinois State.