Loyola Ramblers Preview – https://loyolaramblers.com/news/2026/1/ ... ayton.aspx

Dayton Flyers Stats and Intel - https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/sc ... /2026.html

Record: 13-4 (4-0, 1st in A-10 MBB)
Coach: Anthony Grant
PS/G: 77.5 (171st of 365)
PA/G: 69.1 (76th of 365)
SRS: 9.15 (85th of 365)
SOS: 0.74 (145th of 365)
ORtg: 110.4 (172nd of 365)
DRtg: 98.4 (59th of 365)
Preseason Odds: Championship +50000


Loyola Chicago Ramblers 5-13 (1-4) at Dayton Flyers 13-4 (4-0) – 7:30pm CST, University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OH

Round-2 with Dayton tonight, for an Atlantic 10 Conference Friday night showdown on ESPN2. The short-handed Ramblers squad visits Dayton and looks to avenge a late game collapse and 2-point loss to Dayton at home on January 3rd.

On Tuesday night, a shorthanded Loyola Chicago makeshift lineup consisting of 2 starters, 2 bench players, and a former walkon put the pressure on a 16-1 George Mason squad Tuesday night before falling admirably and respectably, 82-74. The Ramblers led by as much as 12 in the first half and trailed by just two with 2:02 to play down the stretch. Nic Anderson dropped a career-high 17 points, while four more Ramblers joined him in double-figures. In his breakout game, Anderson shot 40.0% from the floor (6-15), played for 35 minutes, and grabbed 7 rebounds. Kymany Houinsou also added 15 points, 6 assists and 3 rebounds.

With the 4th straight loss, the Ramblers fell to 5-13 overall and 1-4 in A-10 play.

"Our guys had the right mindset tonight. They were trying their hardest to believe we could win," said head coach Drew Valentine. "There's not a lot of people that would think based off Saturday's result and who was available to play tonight that we could pull it off. But we have some warriors in that locker room. If we continue to have the same belief that we had tonight as we grow and get guys back, I think we have a good chance come February and March."

The Flyers are 13-4 overall and 4-0 in A-10 play heading into the weekend. They've won four straight over Fordham, Loyola, George Washington, and Duquesne to tip-off conference action. Dayton forces the most turnovers per game (16.59) in the A-10 and rank ninth in the country. The Flyers also lead the A-10 and rank 15th in the NCAA with 9.8 steals per game.

Matched up against Duquesne on Tuesday night, the Flyers posted a 33-24 edge in the first half. Dayton was outscored 41-38 the rest of the way but managed to power out the 71-65 win in the end. Tops in scoring during the road victory was Keonte Jones with 15 points and five rebounds. Javon Bennett was close behind on his 14 points, five rebounds and two assists for the Flyers.

De'Shayne Montgomery is ninth in the country, averaging 2.76 steals per game. He's also second on the Dayton squad in scoring average (14.7). Javon Bennett leads the Flyers with 16.6 points per game. He's scored at least 10 points in all but two games, including the last eight. He had 24 in our last meeting on Jan. 3rd. Amael L'Etang who is still out with injury was averaging 12.8 points and 6.5 rebounds for the Flyers.

These teams last saw each other very recently in a close 70-68 January 3 road win for the Flyers. In that one Dayton shot poorly (37.5 percent) and got out-rebounded 37-23. The officiating tended to side with Dayton on majority of whistles and FT line rewards especially late in the second half. The major differences came with turnovers (15 for Loyola and just five for Dayton) and the Flyers’ excellent performance from the line (21-of-25 for 84 percent).

Since joining the A10, the Ramblers have played Dayton very well on the road and have kept these games close each within 5 points or less, despite being winless at Dayton.


Key Recent Games:

• February 21, 2025: @ Gentile Arena - Loyola Chicago defeated Dayton 76-72 in a tight contest, moving them up in the A-10 standings for the double-bye.

• January 18, 2025: @ Dayton - A wild game from start to finish, Dayton defeats Loyola 83-81 in overtime on a cross-court alley-oop lay-in by an uncovered Amael L'Etang. The Ramblers down by as much as 11 in the second half go on a barrage of threes from Sheldon Edwards Jr. and Des Watson late in the second half to force OT.

• March 1, 2024: @ Gentile Arena - Loyola Chicago defeated Dayton 77-72 led by Braden Norris (19) and Des Watson (24). Both were unconscious from three in second half. First place and the regular season title was on the line.

• January 31, 2023: @ Dayton - The first matchup in the A10 era was a Dayton overtime win (85-81) starting a competitive pattern with the Flyers. It became known as the Ted Valentine game.

Dayton Probable Starters – 5-11 G Javon Bennett, 6-4 G DeShayne Montfomery, 6-6 F Keonte Jones, 6-6 Jaiun Simon, 6-5 G Bryce Heard

Loyola Probable Starters - Rubin, Houinsou, JOJ, TBD, Tavarez


LAST 10 GAMES FOR BOTH SQUADS

Ramblers: 4-6, averaging 71.5 points, 31.5 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 4.2 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 77.6 points.

Flyers: 7-3, averaging 76.5 points, 29.9 rebounds, 14.3 assists, 10.0 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 44.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.5 points per game.


Watch / Listen – Friday night’s game will broadcast on ESPN2 with Mike Corey and John Giannini on the call, and can be listened to Rambler Sports Network with our friends Sudikoff and CT.

Postgame Show - Tune in to Sudikoff on RSN, followed by TalkinBlers Spaces on the X: https://x.com/blerstalking?s=21


Odds: Dayton -15.5

It would be good if Moore was 100% and can play. We will definitely need a another ball handler tonight despite only having 9 TOs against GM. Dayton pressures more and better than GM. I am excited to see Anderson tonight. With the injuries we have, he should get some good run tonight. Dayton is not the biggest of teams and if are moving, cutting and passing the ball like we did in the 1st half against GM, we should be able too score in the paint. Interested to see if Taveras can make some three's tonight. He hit 3 in the first half against GM and was a key reason we led by 6 at the half. Hopefully he is getting past his shooting slump. Our 3 point shooting, usually a strength, has been inconsistent bordering on nonexistent at time this year.

Our banged up Ramblers played spirited and tough again in the first half, but Dayton broke it wide open in the 2nd half and put a pounding on us. 19 Rambler TOs led to 19 pts by Dayton. Beat Dayton on the boards and paint points but in the end lost big. 11 steals for Dayton is a tough stat to look at. Getting past these injuries can't come soon enough. Go Ramblers!

RR...thanks again for keeping up with the previews...I also have enjoyed watching the Ramblers hustle the last couple games..Dont know what else we can ask for? certainly can expect and hope for some victories but there are going to be hit seasons and miss seasons...but really is there anything more rewarding then being at the bottom and working your way up..So am excited to see how February goes....and maybe a surprise in the Tournament....I have yet so see what I would consider a dominating team yet in the A10?? If nothing else we should have fresh legs

That was fun.

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If our team is healthy Feb 1 we... might win four more games? That's about the best case scenario as far as I can tell.

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MBB Scholarship Chart