CHICAGO (December 21, 2022) – Loyola University Chicago (6-5) heads to the west coast on Thursday, December 22, when the Ramblers take on Stanford University in the final game of non-conference play. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. (CT) inside Kaiser Permanente Arena, home to the Santa Cruz Warriors (NBA G-League affiliate), with the game being televised on the Pac-12 Network.
 
Last Time Out
Philip Alston recorded his first double-double in the Maroon & Gold as the Ramblers picked up their third win in a row with a 68-56 wire-to-wire victory over UAlbany on Sunday, December 18. Alston led all players in the contest with a game-high 17 points and game-best 11 rebounds for his first (and Loyola's second) double-double of the season. Alston was 1-of-4 Ramblers to score in double figures.
 
Loyola, winners of four of its last five contests, shot 50% or better from the field for the fifth consecutive game in the win over the Great Danes.
 
Loyola/Stanford – The Series
Thursday will be the first time in program history that the Ramblers and Cardinal will square off in a game. The contest will mark the 34th time that Loyola will play a current member of the Pac-12. Most recently, the Ramblers defeated Arizona State, 77-59, on Nov. 26, 2021 on the final day of competition at the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis. Jacob Hutson had a career day with 26 points and five rebounds on 9-of-13 shooting in the win over the Sun Devils.
 
Stanford becomes the 11th current member of the Pac-12 that the Ramblers have played in their program history. Washington is the lone Pac-12 member that Loyola has never faced. The Ramblers and Cardinal have one common opponent this season in Green Bay. Following Loyola's 70-46 victory over the Phoenix on Dec. 6, Green Bay went out to Stanford and fell by a 85-40 margin on Dec. 16.
 
Scouting Stanford
The Cardinal enter Thursday's tussle at 4-7 on the season following a 72-62 defeat to No. 7 Texas last time out. Michael Jones came off the bench to score a team-high 17 points while Brandon Angel and Spencer Jones scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, in the contest. Spencer Jones leads the team in scoring, averaging 11.5 points per game, while Michael Jones sits right behind him with 10.4 points per contest. The Cardinal bench has accounted for 28.2 points per game, second-best in the Pac-12.

Stanford was picked to finish fifth in the Pac-12 standings this season, earning 239 points from the media and one first-place vote.
 
Up Next
The Ramblers get over a week off before returning to action on New Year's Eve when Loyola Chicago plays host to George Washington in the program's inaugural Atlantic 10 Conference game. Tip-off inside Gentile Arena is set for 3 p.m. on Dec. 31.