DAYTON, Ohio – Loyola Chicago faced a 13-point deficit in the second half at Dayton and battled back to force overtime. Des Watson and Sheldon Edwards Jr. put the Ramblers on their backs with 14 points each in the second alone, but the effort fell short as the Flyers hit a basket in the final seconds for the win, 83-81.
 
Loyola falls to 11-7 overall and 2-3 in Atlantic 10 play.

"Players made plays. Sheldon, Jayden, JQ, Des, and defensively Miles had the confidence to make great plays today," said head coach Drew Valentine. "When adversity hit today, we didn't break off and do our own thing. We executed and played within ourselves. Staying together and believing in the fabric, identity, and culture of this program is our biggest thing. It felt better today watching a team that was competing together."
 
How It Happened
The Flyers tallied the first six points of the game, but the Ramblers found their rhythm to cut it down to one by the 14:57 mark. Jalen DeLoach, Jalen Quinn, and Watson put in the early work for Loyola. Francis Nwaokorie hit a wide open three from the left side for Loyola's first lead by the 12-minute media, 13-11.
 
Loyola's edge didn't last as Dayton went on a 12-0 run for a 24-15 lead by the 7:52 mark. Quinn snapped the stretch, while Dawson sunk one from deep to cut the lead down to six. Dayton's climbed back to double-figures with help from the foul line as both teams saw a five-minute stretch with a field goal drought. Loyola would only trail by seven at the half, following six unanswered points to close the first. Dawson scored five of the six, while Dayton led at the break, 33-26.
 
Dayton opened the second with four straight points and upped its lead back to 13 on a three from Javon Bennet nearly four minutes into the half. The Ramblers chipped away, using a 10-0 run to get back within three. Watson and Edwards Jr. went for back-to-back threes, while Kymany Hounisou capped the run inside to get within one, 48-47.
 
Watson made two straight from the arc for a 55-52 Loyola lead at the 6:34 mark, while Edwards Jr. stayed hot in the final minutes, scoring all 11 of Loyola's points in the final 5:30 of regulation. He had three from deep and drove in for a layup with 13 seconds to tie the game 68-all to force overtime.
 
Malachi Smith tallied the first points of overtime to put Dayton ahead, and the Flyers would hold on to a lead until Edwards Jr. struck again from downtown. He tied the game 75-75 with just a 1:20 on the clock. Enoch Cheeks answered with a three for the Flyers, but Watson, Edwards Jr., and Quinn all scored in the final 30 seconds. Quinn's layup tied it with three seconds to play, but Dayton found Amael L'etang down court for the overtime win, 83-81.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Dawson and Edwards Jr. led Loyola with 19 points each, while Watson and Quinn added 18 and 10 points, respectively.
- Edwards Jr. and Watson scored 14 points each in the second half to fuel the comeback, ultimately forcing OT.
- Edwards finished 7-of-10 from the field with five three-pointers. Watson wen 4-of-10 from deep.
- Loyola shot 51.7 percent from the field (30-58) and 41.1 percent from three-point range (12-29).
- Edwards Jr. added a team-best six rebounds, while Watson and Quinn led Loyola with four assists each.
- Miles Rubin blocked four shots.
 
Up Next
Loyola takes on Fordham inside Gentile Arena on Jan. 22 with a 7 p.m. tip-off.