CHICAGO - Loyola Chicago went 2-0 last week at home and looks to carry the momentum on another two-game trip out east. The Ramblers open action at George Mason on Wednesday at 6 p.m. CT. The Patriots dropped their last game on the road at UMass.

Wednesday's game can be streamed on ESPN+ or be listened to on the Rambler Sports Network with Scott Sudikoff (PXP) and Christian Thomas (Analyst).

Quick Hits
• The Ramblers posted back-to-back double-digit wins on their home court last week, beating Saint Louis (77-62) and Davidson (76-63).
• Against the Billikens, Des Watson exploded for his third 20-point performance of the season, finishing 7-of-15 from the field with four threes. He filled the stat sheet with three rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block.
• Watson followed up with an 18-point outing against his former Wildcat teammates. All five of his made field goals came from deep. He dished out a career-high six assists.
• In league play, Watson ranks eighth in scoring, averaging 15.9 points per game. Watson has put away 23 from the arc, shooting nearly 48 percent from three-point range.
• Braden Norris and Greg Dolan averaged double-figures over the two game stretch last week. Norris scored 16 (4-7 FG, 3-6 3PT, 5-5 FT) vs. Saint Louis and 14 vs. Davidson (4-10 FG, 4-8 3PT, 2-2 FT).
• Dolan matched his season-high vs. SLU with 12 points (4-7 FG, 1-3 3PT, 3-4 FT) and added nine (3-7 FG, 1-3 3PT, 2-2 FT) vs. the Wildcats.
• Miles Rubin continues to climb the single-season blocks list. He recorded another seven last week, including four vs. the Billikens. Rubin is up to 52 on the season and needs 67 to rewrite the program's single-season record set in 1984-85.
• Rubin ranks 11th nationally in total blocks (52) and blocks per game (2.36). As a team, the Ramblers block 5.0 shots per game, sitting 30th in the country.
• Head coach Drew Valentine is in his third season at the helm. He holds a 50-36 overall career record. He notched his 50th win over Davidson and became the ninth head coach in program history to achieve the milestone.

Scouting George Mason
The Patriots are 15-7 overall and sit in the middle of the league standings at 4-5. They're on a two-game losing streak, having fallen to Saint Joseph's (75-73) and Massachusetts (66-65). This season, George Mason is 11-1 on its home court. The Patriots rank 10th in the country in 2pt FG defense (.440) and 22nd in overall field goal defense (.398).

Keyshawn Hall averages 17.2 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game, leading the Patriots in both categories. The Cleveland native has nine double-doubles this year. His last was in the conference opener vs. La Salle where he tallied 27 points (10-17 FG, 1-3 3PT, 6-8 FT) and 13 rebounds.

Tony Skinn is in his first season as head coach, sitting at 15-7 overall.

Series History
The series is even after a split in last season's match ups. Each team won on their home court. At Gentile Arena back on Feb. 4, 2023, Braden Norris and Philip Alston scored 13 points each.