CHICAGO – Loyola Chicago beat Tulsa at home Saturday night, 89-53. The Ramblers sit at 6-0 to start the season, and it's their 12th straight win at Gentile dating back to last season.
 
Four Ramblers scored double-figures led by Des Watson who dropped a season-high 19 points (7-14 FG, 4-7 3PT, 1-4 FT). He added four boards, three assists, a steal, and block.
 
"Days like today are fun for our program, and it's not just the result – it's the why that went into the result," said head coach Drew Valentine. "It is extremely gratifying and fun as a coach to watch your guys start to believe in the why behind the way we do things. Our standards are high and the pressure has been on since June, and now that we finally get to play other people, the guys are processing the standards and realizing why certain things are important."
 
How It Happened
Tulsa had the first basket of the game, but Loyola held them scoreless until 14:29, jumping ahead 7-2. Jayden Dawson netted an early three and crashed the offensive glass for an easy tip-in to put the Ramblers ahead five. Loyola continued to control the game, using a 9-2 run over a three-minute stretch. Dawson drained another three for a 19-13 edge with 8:15 to play.
 
Loyola blew the lead open to double-figures with another seven unanswered points. Watson hit a three in transition to go up 26-15 and force a timeout by the Hurricane. Loyola's runs weren't over as the Ramblers scored the final six points of the half. Jalen Quinn hit four from the line, while Kymany Houinsou had a late dunk. Loyola led 40-27 at the break.
 
Just three minutes into the second, the Ramblers built their lead to 20 points off a three-point play by Moore. The lead went up to 24 before Tulsa snapped a nearly 10-minute stretch without a field goal. The Ramblers didn't let them gain momentum, using a 15-2 run for their largest lead yet at 37. Dawson connected on a three with 8:30 to play for a 30-point edge, while Quinn's mid-range jumper put Loyola up 80-43 with six to play.
 
Sheldon Edwards Jr. had a wide-open look from deep, pushing the lead to 39 with just under five minutes to play. The Hurricane would only get three more makes before time expired, and the Ramblers came away with the win, 89-53.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Dawson (15), Edwards Jr. (13), Quinn (12), and Miles Rubin (10) joined Watson (19) with 10+ points tonight.
- Quinn and Watson scored season-highs.
- Dawson and Edwards Jr. finished 3-of-6 from three, while Watson had four, helping the Ramblers to a 10-of-22 night from the arc.
- Loyola tallied 27 assists on 33 makes.
- Houinsou did a bit of everything for the Ramblers, posting six points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. He recorded new career-highs in both assists and steals, while this marks his second straight game with four offensive boards.
- Seifeldin Hendawy blocked a career-high two shots, which were the first of his collegiate career.
- Tulsa's 27 first half points were the fewest Loyola has allowed in a half this season, while the 53 total points ties a season-low.
- Loyola held Tulsa to 28.3 percent from the field and 9.1 percent from three-point range.
- The Ramblers converted 18 turnovers into 23 points.
- Loyola also led in points in the paint (44-22), on the fast break (16-3), and bench points (30-19).
 
Up Next
Loyola takes a break for the holiday before returning to Gentile on Dec. 3 to play Eastern Michigan at 7:30 p.m. on Marquee Sports Network.