CHICAGO - Loyola Chicago continues its road trip at Saint Joseph's Saturday afternoon. The Ramblers and Hawks both look for their second win of the Atlantic 10 portion of their schedules. Loyola opened the week with a win over La Salle, while Saint Joseph's has dropped its last two.
Saturday's game can be watched on CBS Sports Network with Tom McCarthy (PXP) and Isis Young (Analyst) and can be listened to Rambler Sports Network with
Scott Sudikoff (PXP) and Christian Thomas (Analyst).
RAMBLINGS
• Loyola handed La Salle its first home loss of the season earlier this week, 79-68. Both
Jayden Dawson and
Sheldon Edwards Jr. dropped 20 points in the win, while
Jalen DeLoach and
Jalen Quinn finished in double-figures.
• It marked Dawson's second 20-point outing and Edwards Jr.'s third, and it is the second time this season two Ramblers have hit the 20-point mark in the same game. Edwards Jr. and
Miles Rubin did it earlier this season vs. Oakland.
• Quinn added 13 points, while DeLoach added 12.
• The Ramblers dropped their A-10 opener to VCU, 84-65. Despite a three-point lead at the half, Loyola saw a scoreless stretch in the second that helped the Rams take control for the win. It snapped a 15-game home win streak.
•
Des Watson dropped 20 points in the loss. He finished 8-of-1 from the field and 4-of-9 from three. It marks the second 20-point performance for the senior guard this season.
• Dawson made his return from an ankle injury in early December. He had 10 in the game as the only other Rambler in double-figures.
• Edwards Jr. scored his 1,000th career point against VCU. On a three in the second half, he eclipsed the mark. He currently has 417 points in the Maroon & Gold.
• The three-pointer extends Edwards Jr.'s streak to at least one three made in every game this season as he had four at La Salle. He ranks fourth in the A-10 with 2.8 threes made per game, which sits 61st in the NCAA.
• After his record breaking season last year,
Miles Rubin has nine game this season with at least two blocks. He recorded a season-high five against San Francisco.
• According to KenPom, Rubin ranks 18th in the country in blocked shot percentage, blocking 10.4 percent of attempts.
• In the league, Rubin ranks fourth in blocks per game (2.1) and in total blocks (31). He sits 27th and 24th in the NCAA, respectively.
• Head coach
Drew Valentine is in his fourth season at the helm. He has compiled a 68-43 overall record as head coach.
SCOUTING SAINT JOSEPH'S
The Hawks sit at 10-6 overall and 1-2 in A-10 play heading into the weekend. Saint Joseph's dropped a heart breaker earlier this week in overtime to Duquesne, 85-81. Conference play opened with an 81-72 win, while a notable non-conference win came against #RV/24 Texas Tech back in November.
Four players are averaging at least 10 points per game for the Hawks. They're led by Rasheer Fleming who scored 16.3 ppg on 56.9 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from three. He also leads the Hawks with 9.1 rebounds per game. He has six double-doubles this season, including the last two games. Fleming posted a 16-point, 20-rebound double-double against Texas earlier this season.
Head coach Billy Lange is in his sixth season leading SJU. He holds a 69-97 record at the helm.
SERIES HISTORY
Saint Joseph's leads the all-time series, 5-3. The Ramblers won both meetings last season, including a 64-59 Valentine's Day win over the Hawks in Gentile Arena. Watson had 12 points and eight boards in the win.