Loyola Chicago Ramblers Struggle as Saint Louis Extends Winning Streak
CHICAGO – The Loyola Chicago Ramblers suffered a decisive 86-59 defeat at the hands of the No. 18 Saint Louis Billikens on Friday night, extending Saint Louis’s winning streak to 18 games. The game, played , saw the Billikens dominate, particularly in the second half, as they pulled away with a strong shooting performance.
Trey Green and Ishan Sharma led Saint Louis with 14 points each, while Quentin Jones added 12 and Amari McCottry contributed 11. The Billikens’ victory moves them to 24-1 overall and 12-0 in the Atlantic 10 conference, matching the 2013-14 team for the best start in A-10 play in school history.
For Loyola Chicago, Justin Moore scored 12 points and Daniil Glazkov recorded a career-high 11. However, the Ramblers struggled to keep pace with Saint Louis’s offensive firepower, losing by 20 or more points for the seventh time this season. Loyola Chicago now stands at 6-20 overall and 2-11 in conference play.
The Billikens began to pull away midway through the first half, and continued their momentum into the second. Saint Louis shot 10 of 12 from the field during a key stretch, building a significant lead. A series of runs, including a 13-3 run spanning halftime, and subsequent runs of 8-0 and 11-0, effectively sealed the Ramblers’ fate.
Loyola Chicago had briefly been within three points late in the first half, but Saint Louis responded with a strong push to regain control. The Billikens’ performance highlighted their dominance in the A-10, holding a two-game lead over Virginia Commonwealth with six games remaining in the regular season.
Saint Louis will next face Rhode Island on Tuesday night, while Loyola Chicago will travel to Fordham on Wednesday night. The Billikens will also host VCU on .
The Ramblers have faced a challenging season, with this loss representing another setback in their efforts to improve their standing in the Atlantic 10. Earlier in the season, on , Loyola Chicago secured an 83-72 victory over Central Michigan.
Recent games have shown a mixed bag of results for Loyola Chicago. They secured a 71-61 win over La Salle on , with Joshua Ola-Joseph contributing 16 points. However, they also suffered an 85-64 loss to Saint Joseph’s on , where Austin Williford led Saint Joseph’s with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Duquesne defeated Loyola Chicago 71-59 on , with Tarence Guinyard scoring 23 points for Duquesne. St. Bonaventure also claimed a victory over the Ramblers, winning 84-70 on , thanks to Darryl Simmons II’s 26 points.
Saint Louis’s continued success positions them as a strong contender in the Atlantic 10, with their sights set on maintaining their winning streak and securing a top spot in the conference standings. The Billikens will face Richmond on and Saint Louis again on .
