CHICAGO – Loyola Chicago clinched a share of the Atlantic 10 regular season title Saturday afternoon with a 64-54 win over La Salle in front of a sold-out Gentile Arena. The Ramblers clinched the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament and will have a two-round bye into the quarterfinals.
 
With the win, Loyola finishes the regular season at 23-8 overall and 15-3 in the A10.
 
"At the end of last year, there weren't a lot of people who believed that this was real, but people in that locker room did," said head coach Drew Valentine. "Whether they were newcomers, freshman, transfers, or returners, they believed this was possible and going to happen.
 
They made it happen. They had to be the ones to buy into what we're coaching. They had to be the ones to go out there and execute and make plays with toughness and intensity. This year was all about pride and being part of this university and being a proud representation of Loyola Chicago basketball."
 
How It Happened
The Ramblers and Explorers went back and forth to open Saturday's game with it tied 6-6 at the first media timeout. La Salle pulled away with a 7-0 solo run by Rokas Jocius to take a 13-6 edge.
 
Loyola held La Salle without a buck for over four minutes and scored 11 unanswered points. Braden Norris capped the stretch from downtown, and the Ramblers took a 21-17 lead. The Explorers managed to tie it 21-21 before the Ramblers took over, using another 12-0 run to blow the lead open to double-digits.
 
Norris and Greg Dolan opened the flood gates with back-to-back baskets, including Dolan from deep in transition. Norris's three with 47 seconds left the half gave Loyola its largest least yet at 12, and the Ramblers went into halftime leading, 37-28.
 
In the first three minutes of the second, La Salle was able to cut Loyola's lead down to three with the help of Khalil Brantley on both possessions. It was the closest the Explorers would get for the remainder of the game.
 
Near the midway point, Dame Adelekun battled inside for a three-point play to give Loyola its largest lead at 15. Des Watson kept the lead there with a jumper at the 7:45 mark.
 
La Salle didn't give up, getting within single-digits one more time as Anwar Gill knocked down a jumper in the paint cutting it to nine with 45 seconds to play. Jalen Quinn and Norris put away late free throws sealing the Rambler win, 64-54.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Adelekun recorded his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 boards.
- Norris capped his home career with a 10-point outing. He added three boards, three assists, and a steal.
- Rubin added another 10 points with four rebounds and six blocks.
- His six blocks is a career-high. It ties sixth on the program's single-game block records list.
- With his first block of the game, Rubin set a new single-season record with 67 and counting. The previous record was 66 set in the 1984-85 season.
- With his second assist of the game, Norris recorded his 500^th as a Rambler. He currently ranks fourth all-time in Loyola's record books.
- Loyola outrebounded La Salle, 42-37. The Ramblers turned 18 offensive rebounds into 23 second-chance points.
- Loyola converted 13 turnovers into 16 points and led in bench points, 25-11.
 
Up Next
Loyola heads to the A-10 Tournament as the No. 2 seed. The head to the quarterfinals and await the winner No. 10 La Salle/No. 15 George Washington vs. No. 7 St. Bonaventure.
 
Tipoff will be Thursday at 4 p.m. CT.