CHICAGO – Loyola Chicago sprinted past George Washington on Wednesday night, winning 77-57 and capturing their fifth consecutive win. Jayden Dawson was the standout player with 16 points, while the bench contributed 32 points, showcasing strong team depth.
This victory boosted the Ramblers’ record to 19-9 overall and 10-5 within the Atlantic 10 conference.
Head coach Drew Valentine praised the team, saying, “Tonight was a total team victory. It’s all about our depth. Jalen Quinn brought great energy, Francis made key plays, Miles protected the rim well, and Kymany started the second half strong. I’m proud of the effort tonight.” He also highlighted the importance of community, stating the game celebrated cerebral palsy awareness and aimed to foster a sense of belonging.
Game Summary
George Washington scored first, but the Ramblers quickly responded. They pulled ahead with a steal and layup by Quinn, leading to an 8-0 run and an eight-point lead with 13:44 left in the half. Nwaokorie and Edwards Jr. hit back-to-back three-pointers, extending the lead further. Dawson added a three to give Loyola a 15-point advantage with 10:11 remaining.
GW tried to narrow the gap with some baskets, but Dawson’s five straight points pushed the lead back to 12. With some late points from Nwaokorie and Watson, Loyola led 41-26 at halftime.
The second half started strong for Loyola. They went on a 15-4 run, increasing their lead to over 20. Even though GW made a brief run of their own, the Ramblers extended their lead to 30 points with a 9-0 scoring streak fueled by Dawson and DeLoach.
Though GW managed to hit some late threes, the Ramblers maintained control and finished with a comfortable 77-57 victory.
Player Highlights
- Dawson: 5-14 shooting, four three-pointers, four rebounds, three assists.
- Quinn and Nwaokorie: 12 points each off the bench.
- Rubin: 10 points, five rebounds, four blocks.
- Edwards Jr.: Three three-pointers, just four away from breaking the single-season record.
- Loyola shot over 52%, while holding GW to 37%.
- This marked Loyola’s fifth straight win and their 15th home win of the season.
Next Game
The Ramblers will face the Billikens on the road in St. Louis on Saturday. The game starts at 3:30 p.m. CT.