CHICAGO - Loyola Chicago opens the 2023-24 home slate Saturday night welcoming in-state rival Eastern Illinois. The Ramblers look to win their 15th straight home opener, while the Panthers are coming off a 46-point win earlier this week. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Gentile Arena.
Saturday's game can be listened to on the Rambler Sports Network with Scott Sudikoff (PXP) and Christian Thomas '15 (Analyst). Listen on the Go Ramblers App, Varsity Network App or LoyolaRamblers.com with pregame coverage starting 20 minutes prior to tip-off.
QUICK HITS
• Loyola opened is season in the second annual Barstool Sports Invitational earlier this week playing No. 10 FAU at Wintrust Arena. The Ramblers and Owls went toe-to-toe in the second half, but FAU escaped with a 75-62 win.
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Philip Alston led Loyola's offense with 15 points. It's the 26th time as a Rambler he's notched double-figures. Alston also added six boards and a block.
• Five newcomers also made their Maroon & Gold debut.
Miles Rubin,
Des Watson, and
Greg Dolan were in the starting line-up, while
Patrick Mwamba and
Dame Adelekun came off the bench.
• Mwamba hit two of Loyola's six three-pointers, while Adelekun tied a team-high three assists in the outing.
• The Ramblers played host to Trinity Christian for their lone exhibition match of the season. Loyola had four players score double-figures helping power a 104-44 win.
• Alston led all-scorers with 17 points on 7-of-12 from the field. He grabbed two boards and tallied two steals.
• Mwamba saw 14 minutes off the bench and had a productive outing with 13 points. He shot 5-of-8 from the field and sunk three from deep.
• Rubin (11 points) and Dolan (10 points) rounded out the double-digit scoring efforts.
Braden Norris dished out nine assists, while Dolan added seven.
• The Ramblers made 10 three-pointers and shot over 55 percent from the field, while holding the Trolls to just 23.5 percent Sunday.
• Loyola was tabbed eighth in the Atlantic 10 Preseason poll after finishing their inaugural season at the 4-14 mark last year. Overall, Loyola posted a 10-21 record.
• Alston was named an A10 Preseason Second Team selection. He was Loyola's leading scorer and rebounder last season averaging 14.6 ppg and 5.6 rpg. He blocked a team-high 33 shots.
• Alston is joined by eight other returning letterwinners, including all five starters from last year's squad. In the off-season, Loyola added six newcomers, two of which are true freshman.
Sixteen appearance on their resume.
• Head coach
Drew Valentine is in his third season at the helm. He holds a 35-30 overall career record.
SCOUTING THE EASTERN ILLINOIS PANTHERS
The Panthers sit at 1-1 heading into the Windy City Saturday. They dropped the season opener at No. 25 Illinois, 80-52, before rebounding at home against Monmouth, 91-45. Eastern Illinois was tabbed 11th in the OVC Preseason Poll after finishing 9-22 overall last year.
Caleb Donaldson is EIU's top returning scorer from last season after averaging 8.5 ppg. After the first two games this year, Donaldson is averaging 8.5 ppg, sitting third on the team's leaderboards. Kooper Jacobi leads the Panthers averaging a double-double with 13.0 ppg and 10.0 rpg. He put up 10 points and grabbed 11 boards against the Illini.
Marty Simmons is in his third year leading the Panthers with a 15-49 record. Over his 20-year head coaching career, he has amassed a 298-296 overall record.
SERIES HISTORY
The all-time series is tied, 4-4. The teams last met in 2011 when the Panthers took a win over Loyola.
