CHICAGO - Loyola Chicago sits atop the Atlantic 10 standings and is on a six-game win streak as they welcome the George Mason Patriots to Gentile Arena. The Ramblers handed Rhode Island a 10-point loss last weekend, while the Patriots upset No. 16 Dayton at home earlier this week. Loyola will look to sweep the regular season series over George Mason Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Saturday's game can be watched on USA with Steve Burkowski (PXP) and Tim McCormick (Analyst) or be listened to on the Rambler Sports Network with Scott Sudikoff (PXP) and Christian Thomas (Analyst).
Quick Hits
• The Ramblers sit in first place and are on a six-game win streak heading into this week's lone match-up with the Patriots. They entered the NET top-100 following last week's win.
• Loyola handed Rhode Island a 77-67 loss last Saturday. The Ramblers improve to 12-2 when outscoring their opponents by 10 points or less.
•
Dame Adelekun and
Philip Alston dropped 20-point performances. Both scored 21, while Alston tallied a double-double with a season-high 10 rebounds.
• Alston is on a four-game double-figure scoring streak, while Adelekun has scored 10+ in three straight games. Alston scored 14 vs. George Mason and Saint Joseph's and had another 10 vs. George Washington all leading up to his 21 points at URI. Adelekun scored 13 at GW, 10 vs. SJU, and 21 at URI.
•
Sheldon Edwards also scored 10 points in the win. In the month of February, Edwards leads the Ramblers with 14.0 points per game. He had 27 at George Mason, 18 at George Washington, nine vs. SJU before scoring 10 over the weekend.
• On the A-10 leaderboards, Alston and
Des Watson rank in the top-25 in scoring, Adelekun and Alston rank in field goal percentage,
Braden Norris and Watson in three-point field goal percentage, Norris in assists,
Miles Rubin and Adelekun in blocks.
• The Ramblers need just one more win for their second 20-win season under Valentine's direction. It would be the seventh 20-win season over the last decade and first since joining the A-10.
• Head coach
Drew Valentine is in his third season at the helm. He holds a 54-36 overall career record.
Scouting George Mason
George Mason sits at 18-8 overall and 7-6 in the A-10. The Patriots are fresh off an upset win over No. 16 Dayton earlier this week, 71-67. It's their only win against a ranked opponent this season having fallen to No. 17 Tennessee earlier this year.
Keyshawn Hall leads the Patriots in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 17.7 ppg and 8.2 rpg. He has nine double-doubles this year to lead the A-10 and rank 43rd in the country. On average, Hall grabs 7.46 defensive rebounds per game, sitting 13th in the NCAA. He's on a nine-game double-figure scoring streak, which includes five 20-point performances during that stretch.
Tony Skinn is in his first year at the helm sitting 18-8 overall.
Series History
Loyola leads the all-time series 2-1 after
Sheldon Edwards led the Ramblers to a comeback win earlier this month, 85-79. Edwards erupted for a career-high 27 points, sinking six from deep.
