CHICAGO – Des Watson exploded for 18 points against his former team helping Loyola Chicago down Davidson 76-63 in front of a vivacious home crowd. Watson went 5-of-9 from deep as the Ramblers posted their best three-point field goal percentage (14-28) of the year.
 
Loyola improves to 15-7 overall and 7-2 in the Atlantic 10.
 
"A great win for us today," said head coach Drew Valentine. "We knew this game was going to be intense, and obviously, you sprinkle in Des being a former player, but we wanted our discipline to be more than our desire. We wanted our detail to be greater than our emotion. When we play Loyola basketball on both sides of the floor that's when we are who we are. I'm really proud with how this group has grown."
 
How It Happened
The Ramblers and Wildcats came to battle Sunday in Gentile. Despite a slow start, Loyola jumped out to a seven-point lead with back-to-back threes from Jalen Quinn and Greg Dolan. Davidson clawed back with seven unanswered points to tie the game 13-13 by the 8:48 mark.
 
Braden Norris and Watson connected on two straight from beyond the arc near the five-minute mark to regain a permanent lead for the remainder of the half. The Ramblers led by as much as six in the final minutes with a baseline drive from Philip Alston at 2:39. Davidson got back within two, but Norris's second three of the game with under a minute to go helped Loyola to a 34-29 edge at the break.
 
The Ramblers heated up in the second half with four threes by the 14:31 mark to force a timeout by the Wildcats. Watson hit three of the four, while Norris netted his third for a 10-point lead at the timeout.
 
After the double-digit lead, the Wildcats could only get back within seven on a three from Reed Bailey with 3:08 to go. Loyola took a 13-point lead twice over the next two minutes with a corner triple from Quinn. Quinn then fed Adelekun for an alleyoop with 1:18 on the clock. Thirteen was the lucky number, and Loyola came away winning, 76-63.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Watson also dished out a new career-high six assists to go with his 18 points.
- Norris added 14 points with four threes and 2-for-2 at the line. He surpassed 1,400 career points.
- Adelekun added 12 points to hit double-digits for the third time in four games.
- Quinn added 10 points for his second double-figure outing this season. He tied his career-high five assists.
- The Ramblers tallied 21 assists for the most against an A-10 opponent this season.
- Loyola outrebounded Davidson, 35-33, and led on bench points, 31-7.
- Loyola's four blocks today give them 109 on the season as a team, making them tied for the second most team blocks in a single-season.
- The win marks Coach Valentine's 50^th career win. He is the ninth coach in program history to achieve the milestone.
 
Up Next
Loyola takes its next two games on the road. First up, the Ramblers head to George Mason on Wednesday, Feb. 7. Tipoff is 6 p.m. CT.