CHICAGO – Four Ramblers dropped double-figure scoring performances helping Loyola Chicago to a 73-35 win over Central Michigan in the final non-conference game of the season. It's the fewest points the Ramblers have allowed since the 2021-22 season.
 
As a squad, Loyola shot 47.4 percent from the field and held CMU to under 24 percent. The Ramblers led 21-0 on fast break points, 14-9 off turnovers, and 38-22 in the paint.
 
With the win, Loyola sits at 8-5 ahead of league play opening next week.
 
"Coaches always worry when you have a long break like we did," said head coach Drew Valentine. "This group showed growth and maturity coming back ready to go and showed that with their play today. It was fun to see the team take pride in defending. We've really been working on discipline and ball pressure. We looked like a group that was focused on executing that and dominating our opponent defensively."
 
How It Happened
It only took seven seconds for the Ramblers to spark a 12-0 run out of the opening tip. Braden Norris found Jayden Dawson wide open in the corner for a three to get the day started. By the first media timeout, Loyola led 10-0 and extended it to 18-4 on back-to-back three-pointers from Norris with 11:34 on the clock.
 
Des Watson connected on another from deep with 6:49 to play for Loyola's largest lead yet at 19. Jalen Quinn made it a 21-point advantage on a drive inside, while Philip Alston added two more to the lead a couple minutes later. Norris closed the first with his third three of the day, and the Ramblers led, 37-14.
 
Watson forced a turnover on CMU's first possession of the second half leading to a Miles Rubin dunk and 25-point edge. The Chippewas chipped away getting the lead under 20 with a three-pointer from Brian Taylor at the 13:26 mark, but it wasn't enough to affect the Ramblers.
 
Norris stayed hot from the arc hitting his fourth of the game with 8:28 to play extending Loyola's lead to 29. Alston went coast to coast under the four-minute mark helping push the Ramblers up 31 on a steal and layup on the fast break. With some help from the bench in the final two minutes, Loyola capped the dominant outing with a 38-point win.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Watson was the first Rambler to hit double-figures. It marks his eighth 10+ point performance this season. He finished with 10 points.
- Alston extended his double-figure scoring streak to six straight games with a team-high 15 points.
- Rubin notched back-to-back career games with another double-figure effort and career-high 13 points. He matched his career-high nine boards and tallied five blocks.
- Norris went 4-for-5 from three-point range, recording his fifth game in double-figures this season. He added six assists.
- The Ramblers finished with 21 total assists to CMU's six.
- Loyola held Central Michigan to just 14 first-half points. It's the lowest first-half point total for an opponent since the Ramblers held Evansville to 12 points during the 2021-22 season.
- It also marks the fewest allowed points since that same game vs. the Purple Aces (31).
 
Up Next
Atlantic 10 action tips off in Saint Louis next week. The Ramblers and Billikens are set for a 6 p.m. start Wednesday, Jan. 3.