CHICAGO – Loyola Chicago extended its win streak to five games following a down to the wire battle with Saint Joseph's, 64-59. Philip Alston led the Ramblers with 14 points, while Des Watson (12) and Dame Adelekun (10) added double-figure performances. It marks Watson's fifth straight game with at least 10 points.
 
The Ramblers improve to 18-7 overall and 10-2 in A-10 play. Loyola and Dayton are tied for first in the standings after Wednesday's action.
 
"This team is finding ways to win," said head coach Drew Valentine. "That simple statement encompasses what our conference season has been. Obviously, we don't want to live on the edge, but it's important for teams to find a way to win and be able to fight through adversity. The start of the second half ended up being the reason why we won the game. We were able to get stops when we needed them. Guys stepped up and hit shots when they needed to. That mental toughness you need to fight through games, our guys showed a bunch of it."
 
How It Happened
The Ramblers opened the game on a dominating 14-0 run sparked by a three-pointer from Braden Norris on Loyola's opening possession. Miles Rubin, Sheldon Edwards, Philip Alston, and Adelekun contributed to the stretch for a team-effort.
 
Saint Joseph's tallied its first points of the game at the 13:48 mark and responded to Loyola's punch with a 14-2 run of its own, cutting the lead to two by the 8:56 in the first. The Ramblers were scoreless for just over five minutes before Alston sunk a free throw.
 
The Hawks didn't back down and took their first lead on an Erik Reynolds three with under five to go. Patrick Mwamba and Alston combined for six unanswered points helping capture a seven-point lead with 1:39 to go. Xzayvier Brown delivered the final blow from deep, and the Hawks squeezed out a lead at the break, 30-29.
 
The Ramblers found their edge again in the second, opening on an 11-2 run in the first three and a half minutes. Watson struck down a three to open the action, while Rubin, Edwards, and Alston added to the run. Reynolds halted Loyola's scoring, helping the Hawks get within four. The Ramblers built their advantage back up to nine, holding on until the 9:30 mark.
 
Brown scored four straight for the Hawks, while the Ramblers struggled to find the hoop until a Watson three with 6:15 to play. Scoring was scarce over the next four minutes with the teams combining for just eight points. Watson had back-to-back buckets, extending Loyola lead back up to eight by the 2:09 mark.
 
The final two minutes went down to the wire. Brown hit a three at the 1:09 mark for the final field goal of the game, while the remaining 10 points came at the line. The Hawks cut the lead to one twice, but Watson and Mwamba helped seal a five-point win, sinking the final four at the stripe. Ramblers win, 64-59.

Inside the Box Score
- Alston finished with 14 points on 5-of-12 from the field and 3-of-5 at the line. He hit one three.
- Watson's fifth straight game in double-figures was fueled by finished 3-of-9 from the field, two threes, and 4-of-4 at the line. It's his 17th double-digit game of the season. 
- Adelekun scored 10 on 4-of-10 from the field and 2-of-2 at the stripe.
- Loyola out-rebounded Saint Joseph's, 42-26.
- Alston tied his season-high with eight. Watson also grabbed eight off the glass.
- The Ramblers finished with 19 assists led by Norris who matched his season-high seven. He moved up to fifth most career assists at Loyola.
- Mwamba had a big defensive night with four boards, three steals, and two blocks. Both steals and blocks are season-highs.
 
Up Next
Loyola heads out for an 11 a.m. CT tipoff at Rhode Island on Sunday. It can be watched on CBS Sports Network.