Loyola Chicago earned their second straight with a 76-63 victory over Davidson at Gentile Arena on Sunday. The Ramblers improved to 15-7 (7-2). The visiting Wildcats fell to 12-9 (2-6).
Possessions: 68
Offensive efficiency: Loyola Chicago 112, Davidson 93
Four Factors:
| Loyola Chicago | Davidson | |
| eFG Pct. | 59 | 44 |
| FT Rate | 37 | 21 |
| OREB Pct. | 22 | 22 |
| TO Rate | 18 | 13 |
Davidson shot 47% overall and 6 of 23 (26%) from long range. Loyola Chicago shot better from three (50%) than two (42%) point range.
Late game fouling by Davidson, to extend the contest, helped account for the FT Rate disparity.
BCI (ball control index = assists + steals/ turnovers.
Loyola Chicago 2.25
Davidson 1.33
Kenpom.com MVP: Grant Huffman, Davidson. The senior guard was a Wildcat stat stuffer with 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Huffman logged 34 minutes with just two turnovers.
Leading scorers: Loyola Chicago- Des Watson 18, Braden Norris 14.
Davidson- Grant Huffman and Reed Bailey 23.
The difference. Loyola Chicago connected on 14 of 28 (50%) from beyond the arc. For Drew Valentine’s Ramblers, It was their best showing in that category this season. Des Watson, facing his former team, buried five three pointers while handing out a career-high six assists.
The game had eight ties and two lead changes. Despite those numbers, the Ramblers were in charge a good portion of this contest. Davidson trailed by double digits most of the second half. Matt McKillop’s group finally got the deficit to seven with just over three minutes to go. The hosts answered that run beginning with a three pointer by Jalen Quinn and were never headed.
Loyola Chicago made it five of their last six in the win column. The lone setback was at VCU in late January. In the A10, the Ramblers are now one game behind Dayton and Richmond who are tied at 8-1. Davidson has dropped two straight and three of their last four. Wildcats are now 12th in the standings but two games out of fifth in the loss column. With the conference at the midway point there is time to move up.
