WASHINGTON – Des Watson willed the Ramblers to their first ever Atlantic 10 Tournament win in Friday's quarterfinal with a career-high 25-point performance. He finished 7-14 from the field, 3-5 from three, and 8-9 at the line. It marks Watson's fifth game this season with at least 20.
 
The Ramblers improve to 22-10 overall and will take on the top-seeded VCU team in Saturday's semifinal. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. CT.
 
"I've got to give our guys so much credit for how they approached today. We had so much pop, intensity, togetherness, execution, and mental focus," said head coach Drew Valentine. "We looked dialed in from the very start of the game. It started yesterday when we went to practice, carried over to our morning walk through and pregame meal, and all the way through the end of the game. They didn't give up and executed what we talked about and kept the energy alive."
 
How It Happened
Saint Louis took the first lead of the game, but Loyola stormed past with a 9-0 run to pull ahead 15-6 by the 14:05 mark. Des Watson had five straight, including his first three-pointer of the game. A little over the minute later, Jalen DeLoach went to work inside, scoring a turnaround jumper for an 11-point edge.
 
Sheldon Edwards Jr drained a big three at the 8:40 mark that helped the Ramblers score five straight to their largest lead yet by the eight-minute mark, 29-15. Jayden Dawson dropped in a pull-up jumper to keep the lead at 14, but SLU found some momentum with a 7-0 run to get back within a couple possessions. The Billikens shaved it down to five on an Isaiah Swope three with under a minute, but Watson answered with his own to cap the half. Loyola led, 38-30.
 
Dawson and Kymany Houinsou went for back to back buckets to open Loyola's second half, pushing the lead to double-figures in the opening minutes. Isiah Swope began to heat up with five early points for SLU, but Watson scored six unanswered points with a three to regain an 11-point edge at the 15:12 mark. Dawson drained a three nearly four minutes later, keeping the Ramblers ahead by 12.
 
SLU didn't back down, halting Loyola's momentum. Swope hit back-to-back threes to cap a 12-2 Billiken run that cut the lead to two with 7:53 to play. Houinsou DeLoach gave the Ramblers some space with three straight looks inside, but Robbie Avila scored five straight to get back within three with 3:45 on the clock. Edwards Jr. scored a clutch second-chance three, while the remaining Loyola points came at the line in the final minute. The Ramblers held on to win, 72-64.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Watson's 25 points marked a new career-best. His previous high was 24. He went 7-14 from the field with three from deep and went 8-9 at the foul line.
- Watson added three rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
- Dawson scored 12 points, while Edwards Jr. recorded 10.
- Houinsou neared a double-double with eight points and 10 rebounds. It marked his second straight game with 10 rebounds.
- Rubin recorded two blocks, tying the single-season record he set last year with 76 and counting.
- The Ramblers scored 13 points on 10 Billiken turnovers.
- Loyola won the rebounding game, 37-30. The Ramblers crashed the glass for 10 offensive boards.