BROOKLYN – Despite a 15-point Rambler lead in the first half, Thursday's Quarterfinal between No. 2 Loyola Chicago and No. 7 St. Bonaventure came down to a double overtime battle. The Bonnies ultimately escaped 75-72 to advance to the semifinals.
 
Philip Alston led the Ramblers with 22 points (7-13 FG, 2-2 3PT, 6-10 FT). Miles Rubin and Dame Adelekun added 12 points each. Adelekun notched his second straight double-double with 10 boards.
 
With the loss, Loyola falls to 23-9 overall.
 
"First of all, credit to St. Bonaventure. It was a gritty, intense college basketball game where it looked like two teams wanted to win," said head coach Drew Valentine. "I told my team in the locker room after the game that this game doesn't define our season. What we did to be regular season champions means something in our second year. Especially with how our season went last year. I am proud of my group."
 
How It Happened
Loyola jumped ahead 6-0, holding St. Bonaventure scoreless over the first four minutes of Thursday's Quarterfinal. Sheldon Edwards capped the run inside on a fast break transition feed from Alston. Alston kept the momentum going, leading the Ramblers to a 10-point edge after grabbing the board off his missed free throw for a second chance bucket.
 
The Ramblers built their lead to 15 at the 6:15 mark on a Rubin jumper in the paint, but the Bonnie chipped away with nine unanswered points to get within six with 34 seconds to play. Alston had the last bucket draining a three. Loyola took a 37-38 lead into the break.
 
In the second half, Loyola led by 11 on five occasions with the final double-digit edge coming on a drive by Quinn at the 8:52 mark. The Bonnies then began to chip away holding the Loyola offense without a point in the final six minutes of play. An 11-0 run to end regulation helped St. Bonaventure tie the game 58-58 and force overtime.
 
Des Watson broke the scoreless stretch at the 2:42 mark of the first OT period. Alston followed up with back-to-back dunks for a one-point Loyola lead with 1:36 to play. Banks answered with a deep three swinging the lead back to the Bonnies' favor, but Alston would force a second OT tying the game 65-65 with a put-back layup off his missed free throw.
 
Nearly three minutes into the second OT period, Banks pulled up for a SBU three taking a four-point advantage. Rubin and Adelekun scored six straight with Adelekun's free throws with 32 seconds to play regaining a Rambler lead, 74-72. Banks was fouled on a three-point attempt in the final 15 seconds and put away all three. The Bonnies escaped, 75-74.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Alston's 22 points marks the fifth 20-point effort for the senior forward this season.
- Alston and Edwards tallied eight rebounds each.
- Rubin recorded five boards and three blocks.
- Adelekun's double-double is his second straight and third of the year.
- Watson finished with a team-high six assists, while Braden Norris added five.
- Loyola out rebounded St. Bonaventure, 49-44.