PHILADELPHIA – Jayden Dawson and Sheldon Edwards Jr. both went for 20 points, helping Loyola Chicago to its first Atlantic 10 win of the season. The Ramblers handed the Explorers their first home loss of the season, 79-68.
 
This marks Edwards Jr.'s third and Dawson's second 20-point outing of the season.
 
With the win, Loyola sits at 10-5 overall, 1-1 in the A-10.
 
"The number one thing we needed to do tonight was take care of the ball. We only had 10 turnovers, which was extremely important," said head coach Drew Valentine. "Players made plays tonight, too. Jayden, Quinn, DeLoach, and Sheldon, they all made plays and made us look smart. I'm proud of our guys. We had our backs against a wall and needed a win. They had great energy, and I am proud."
 
How It Happened
The Explorers got out ahead 5-1 with Corey McKeithan leading the way. He finished with 18 first-half points for the Explorers and put up their first seven. The Ramblers erased his early efforts with an 11-0 run that spanned a three-minute stretch to take the lead, 15-7. Four Ramblers scored in the run led by Jalen DeLoach's four points.
 
McKeithan kept cooking for La Salle and cut Loyola's lead to one with his final bucket of the half with 8:42 to play. The Ramblers didn't give up the lead and pushed it back to nine with seven unanswered points inside the under-two mark. Loyola drew up the final play for a hot-shooting Jayden Dawson who netted one final three of the half as the Ramblers took a 40-32 lead into the break.
 
Loyola's second double-digit lead of the night came on its first basket of the half as DeLoach found the hoop inside the paint 20 seconds in. The Ramblers remained in control despite the Explorers hanging around. Jahlil White cut the lead down two three while at the line for La Salle at the 11:50 mark, but it was the closest the Explorers could get.
 
Edwards Jr. and Dawson drained back-to-back threes to gain some separation just after the eight-minute media. Edwards Jr. hit another from deep at the 4:58 mark pushing the lead to double-digits yet again, 68-58. Less than a minute later, he blew by his defender, putting away a driving layup to give Loyola its largest lead of the night at 14. White would get a three in the final 30 seconds for La Salle, but the Ramblers won, 79-68.
 
Inside the Box Score
- This is the second time this season two Ramblers have scored 20 points each in a game. Edwards Jr. and Miles Rubin did it earlier this season vs. Oakland.
- Dawson went 6-of-10 from the field with three from the arc. He also went perfect at the foul line (5-5) and grabbed a team-best six rebounds.
- Edwards Jr. was 6-of-9 from the field, 4-of-7 from three-point range, and 4-of-4 at the line. He tallied three boards and three assists.
- Jalen Quinn and DeLoach wrapped up double-figure scoring efforts. Quinn scored 13, while DeLoach added 12.
- DeLoach and Rubin tallied two steals each.
- The Ramblers shot 48.1 percent from the field and sank nine threes to La Salle's 40.9 field goal percentage.
- Loyola also led in points in the paint (28-24) and bench points (22-16).
 
Up Next
Loyola hangs in Philadelphia to play Saint Joseph's Saturday. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. CT.