CHICAGO – Loyola Chicago improved to 5-0 Tuesday night with a 76-72 home win over Southern Utah. Three Ramblers scored double-figures and were led by Des Watson with a 12-point outing. Kymany Houinsou had 11 points, while Jalen DeLoach added 10.
 
This is the first 5-0 start to the season for Loyola since the 2017-18 season when the Ramblers went 7-0 to open.
 
"Non-conference in November and December is all about trying to figure our ways to win and this group had to win three close games – all different games, all different styles," said head coach Drew Valentine. "I have to give Southern Utah credit. Coach Jeter always does a good job recruiting talent, and we could see it out there today. I am proud of our guys for how they stepped up and made adjustments out there."
 
How It Happened
It was a slow start Tuesday night as the Ramblers went 0-for-9 from the field to start the half, while their first make didn't come until 14:41 on a drive inside by Jalen Quinn. Sheldon Edwards Jr. and Watson hit back-to-back threes to push Loyola ahead 10-6, while the Thunderbirds didn't hit a field goal for nearly five minutes.
 
Quinn knocked down a three at the 8:16 mark, sparking a 7-2 run, while Jayden Dawson drove in for a layup, leading Loyola on another 8-1 stretch. He capped the run, draining a three for the largest lead yet with 4:19 to play, 29-20. SUU saw another field goal drought lasting until the final minute of the half. The Ramblers took a 35-32 edge into the break.
 
The Thunderbirds changed momentum to start the second half, using a 6-0 run to tie and regain the lead, 40-38. The lead didn't last long as Houinsou, Justin Moore, and DeLoach got on the board, swinging the lead back to six in Loyola's favor. Houinsou drained a second-chance three at the 12:55 mark to go up, 48-43. A little over two minutes later, SUU added another six straight for a one-point edge.
 
Houinsou capitalized on a SUU turnover with a dunk at the 7:07 mark. Two minutes later, Watson fed Miles Rubin for an alley-oop. SUU would tie the game and take one more lead at the line, 65-64. The Ramblers responded with a 7-0 run led off by a three from Francis Nwaokorie at the 2:35 mark. Loyola's lead would stay at two or more, and Rubin and Moore secured the win with clutch free throws down the stretch, 76-72.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Loyola finished with 19 assists on 26 made field goals.
- Moore led the game and tied his season high with seven assists.
- Watson added a season-high four assists.
- This was Houinsou's first double-figure scoring effort of the season, Watson's second, and DeLoach's third.
- Nwaokorie added nine points and seven rebounds off the bench.
- Rubin had three blocks, while Dawson and Houinsou had two steals each.
- The Ramblers finished the night shooting 43.3 percent from the field and 44.3 percent from three-point range.
- The Ramblers scored 20 second-chance points off 14 offensive boards, while the bench put up 34 points.
- This was the 11^th straight win at Gentile arena, dating back to last season.
 
Up Next
Loyola continues home action with Tulsa Saturday at 5 pm.