SAN FRANCISCO – Jayden Dawson exploded for a career-high 35 points in a thrilling win over San Francisco, 77-76. In a game that saw 14 lead changes, Loyola Chicago came away with the win to advance to the NIT quarterfinals. It marked the first loss for San Francisco at home this season.
 
Loyola improves to 24-11 overall. The Ramblers will take on Kent State on Wednesday, March 26. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. in Gentile Arena and can be watched on ESPN2.
 
"Both teams were shorthanded tonight, but we played one heck of a basketball game," said head coach Drew Valentine. "Those were two of the most epic performances by Dawson and Thomas that I've ever been a part of. Shot making on both ends was just ridiculous. JD had a look in his eye today. He was totally locked in, and it was incredible to watch."
 
How It Happened
Dawson's first points of the game came off Loyola's opening play of the game, but the Dons punched back with a 12-2 run to jump ahead, 12-7. Jalen DeLoach halted their progress and sparked a 16-0 Rambler rally that held USF without a basket for nearly five minutes. Des Watson swung the lead in Loyola's favor with a three-pointer at the 12:30 mark, while Dawson drove inside to push the lead to nine with 10:30 to go.
 
Malik Thomas snapped the scoreless stretch for the Dons with a three on USF's next possession, but Loyola scored another quick seven unanswered. Dawson had a second chance bucket to make it a double-digit lead, while Daniil Glazkov put an exclamation on the run with a three to go up 13 at the 8:11 mark. USF scored 11 of the final 14 points to cut the Loyola lead down by the break, 36-32.
 
Dawson struck first to start the half again with four straight points, helping Loyola hold on to a lead until the 13:34 mark when Thomas tied it 46-all. The remainder of the half saw 12 lead changes with the Ramblers and Dons going back and forth for six of the lead changes over the next three minutes. O'Donnell, Sheldon Edwards Jr., Thomas, Dawson traded buckets before Miles Rubin regained control for the Ramblers with a jumper in the paint at 10:57.
 
Loyola upped its lead to five on a three-point play by Dawson, but the Dons battled back again to take another lead on a fast break by Thomas just under the 10-minute mark. Free throws came up clutch for the Ramblers who went 9-11 over the next five minutes to take back an edge. USF led by as much as three in the final three minutes, while Dawson and Thomas traded threes in the final two minutes. Dawson got final say with a driving layup for the win with 56 seconds left on the clock. Ramblers won, 77-76.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Dawson recorded a new career-high and first 30-point performance with a team-high 35 points. He went 14-27 from the field with four three pointers.
- Dawson added four rebounds and an assist.
- Watson finished in double-figures with 13 points. He recorded six rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
- Edwards Jr. neared a double-double with seven points and a team-high eight rebounds.
- Rubin tallied six points, six rebounds, one assist, and three blocks.
- Loyola shot 40 percent from the field (24-60) with seven threes.
- The Ramblers went 22-24 at the line.
- Loyola committed a season-low four turnovers, marking a new record under Valentine.
- This is the first postseason game the Ramblers will host since the CBI in 2015.