CHICAGO - Loyola Chicago and Eastern Michigan tip-off the week Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. inside Gentile Arena. The Ramblers look to continue their hot streak and improve to 7-0 this season,  while EMU looks to rebound after dropping its last contest over the weekend to Detroit Mercy.

Tuesday's game can be watched on Marquee Sports Network and ESPN+ with Jordan Bernfield (PXP) and Stephond Robinson (Analyst) and can be listened to Rambler Sports Network with Scott Sudikoff (PXP) and Christian Thomas (Analyst).

RAMBLINGS
• Loyola received four votes in the AP Top-25 Poll released earlier this week. The Ramblers are one of 17 undefeated teams left in the country.
• The last time the Ramblers opened the year 6-0 was in 2017-18 when the team won seven straight to start the season. Loyola has also won its last 12 games at Gentile Arena, dating back to Jan. 17 last season vs. Massachusetts.
• The Ramblers surged to an 89-53 win over Tulsa in their last game on Nov. 23. The 36-point margin is the highest margin of victory against a DI opponent during Drew Valentine's era since the Ramblers beat Central Michigan by 38 last year. Loyola had a 51-point win over UNI in his first season at the helm.
• Des Watson had a breakout performance for the season with a high of 19 points (7-14 FG, 4-7 3PT, 1-4 FT). He added four boards, three assists, a steal, and block.
• Jayden Dawson (15), Sheldon Edwards Jr. (13), Jalen Quinn (12), and Miles Rubin (10) joined Watson (19) with 10+ points against the Hurricane.
• Kymany 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 it marks his second straight game with four offensive boards.
• The Ramblers rank in the A-10's top three teams in scoring, scoring defense, scoring margin, field goal percentage, opponent field goal percentage, three-point percentage, opponent three-point percentage, offensive rebounding, assist to turnover ratio, assists, and blocks.
• Loyola's 20.5 assists per game leads the A-10 and ranks eighth in the country. The Ramblers assisted 27 times on 33 makes vs. Tulsa. It is second on the single-game highs in the conference this season.
• Justin Moore leads Loyola with 6.0 assists per game, ranking second in the conference and 77th in the NCAA.
• Moore and Des Watson fall in the top-35 in assist to turnover ratio. Watson sits 22nd (4.00) and Moore 31st (3.60).
• Head coach Drew Valentine is in his fourth season at the helm. He has compiled a 64-39 overall record as head coach.

SCOUTING EASTERN MICHIGAN
The Eagles are 5-3 heading into the week. They dropped a game against Detroit Mercy over the weekend, 98-89. The loss came after a three-game win streak vs. Oakland, Houston Christian, and Northern Arizona. Eastern Michigan is averaging 70.9 points per game, ranking in the bottom of the MAC. The Eagles are also giving up 70.9 ppg, which is the fifth best defense in the conference.

Four Eagles are averaging double-figure scoring through the first eight games. Jalen Terry leads, averaging 14.9 points per game. He's also the team leader in rebounds (6.0) and steals (1.6). Terry had back-to-back 20-point performances last month. He dropped 28 against IU Indy and another 25 against Cleveland State.

Stan Heath is in his fourth season at the helm with a 36-65 record.

SERIES HISTORY
The all-time series is tied, 1-1. The teams last met in the 1999-2000 season. Loyola fell by four to EMU, 68-64.