CHICAGO – Loyola Chicago is headed back to the NIT Semifinals for the first time since 1962 after beating Kent State last week, 72-62. The Ramblers will take on the Chattanooga Mocs who were the SoCon regular season champions. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. CT April 1 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Tuesday’s game can be watched on ESPN2 with Mike Corey (PXP) and Fran Fraschilla (Analyst). The game can also be listened to Rambler Sports Network with Scott Sudikoff (PXP) and Christian Thomas (Analyst).
RAMBLINGS
• Loyola’s win over Kent State marked with No. 17 at Gentile Arena this season. It is the most home wins in a single season for the Ramblers. Loyola had 16 back in the 1965-66 season, and this is the first season above 15 since then.
• Miles Rubin led Loyola with 18 points and nine boards in the win. He was 8-9 from the field, bumping his season field goal percentage to 70.4 percent on the year.
• Rubin added two blocks in the game, moving his season total to 84. He broke the single-season record with his 77th of the year, which he set in his freshman campaign with 76 in 2023-24.
• Rubin is in national rankings. He sits sixth in total blocks (84), ninth in block percentage (11.8), and 13th in blocks per game (2.3).
• Jayden Dawson (13) and Sheldon Edwards Jr. (12) added double-digit efforts with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Jalen DeLoach added a career-high four blocks.
• The Ramblers assisted on 20 of their 27 made field goals. Edwards Jr. dished out five, while Des Watson added four, including a no-looker, behind the back dime to DeLoach that landed on Sports Center Top-10.
• Loyola handed San Francisco its first loss on its home court last week in the second round match-up, 77-76. The Ramblers were led by Dawson who exploded for a 35-point career-high performance.
• This marked Dawson’s sixth game with at least 20 points this season and first ever career game eclipsing 30. He’s the first Rambler since the 2018-19 season to score 30+.
• Watson added 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists. He was the only other Rambler to hit double-figures.
• Edwards Jr. neared a double-double with seven points and eight rebounds, while Rubin added six points, six boards, and three blocks.
• Unlike the first time around vs the Dons, Loyola had success at the line, shooting 22-24. The 91.7 percent outing was their best finish at the charity stripe this season.
• Loyola also committed the fewest turnovers under head coach Drew Valentine with four. The previous low was five vs. Rhode Island back in January.
• Head coach Drew Valentine is in his fourth season at the helm. He has compiled a 83-50 overall record as head coach.
SCOUTING CHATTANOOGA
Chattanooga enters the semifinal at 27-9 overall, picking up wins over Middle Tennessee State, Dayton, and Bradley. The Mocs went 15-3 in the Southern Conference, winning the regular season title. Furman upset Chattanooga in the conference semifinal, 80-77. The Mocs rank seventh in th NCAA in assist to turnover ratio (1.67) and fall in the NCAA top-30 in assists per game (17.0), effective field goal percentage (.564), and field goal percentage (.481).
Helping the team to its 1.67 assist to turnover ratio is Garrison Keeslar. He leads the country at 5.40. He’s averaging 4.5 assists per game. Honor Huff leads the Mocs in scoring, averaging 15.3 points per game. He’s scored double-figures in 14 of the last 15 games, including six games with 20+. Huff had 26 against Dayton and 21 at Bradley.
Dan Earl is in his third season leadings the Mocs. He has a 66-38 record with the team.
