Loyola opens A-10 play against VCU

CHICAGO – Loyola Chicago opens Atlantic 10 home action against VCU on Saturday afternoon. The Ramblers and Rams will be on national television at 1 p.m. CT. Loyola looks to win its 15th straight home game while VCU looks for its first road win of the season.

Saturday’s game can be watched on CBS Sports Network with Jason Knapp (PXP) and Tim Doyle (analyst) and heard on Rambler Sports Network with Scott Sudikoff (PXP) and Christian Thomas (analyst).

GAMBLING
• Loyola finished its nonconference schedule at 9-4 after wrapping up play in the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu.
• During the three games in Hawaii Miles Ruby led the Ramblers with 15.7 points per game on 87 percent from the field.
• Rubin became the fourth Rambler this season with a 20-point performance, scoring 21 points in the opener against Oakland. He was 9 of 11 from the field and 3 of 4 at the line. Rubin went 4 of 5 against Charleston and 7 of 7 against Murray State.
• Sheldon Edwards Jr. He also made an impact, scoring 13.7 points per game at Diamond Head. He shot over 34 percent from three-point range, including a 6-of-13 game against Oakland.
• Edwards Jr. has made at least one three-pointer in every game this season and is averaging 2.9 three-pointers per game, good for third in the Atlantic 10. His 37.3 percent from deep ranks 24th in the league.
• Against Oakland, Edwards Jr. dropped 20 points in his second straight game of at least 20 points. He heads into conference play on a four-game double-digit point streak.
• Jalen Quinn added 11.3 points per game in the three games at Hawaii. He scored a total of 10 points with six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in the opener against Oakland. Quinn followed with a career-high 17 points against Charleston. He was 6 of 7 from the field and 5 of 6 at the line.
• Loyola shot a season-high 62.5 percent against Murray State. The Ramblers made their first 13 baskets of the game before a missed shot with 2:15 left in the half. This is the second-best single-game field goal percentage recorded by an A-10 team this year.
• Individually, Rubin ranks third in the league with a shooting percentage of 68.4 percent. Quinn also ranked 14th in the top 15 and shot .513 for Loyola.
• Head coach Drew Valentine is in its fourth season at the helm. As a head coach, he compiled an overall record of 67-43.

SCOUTING VCU
VCU posted a 10-3 non-conference record and is 10-4 after narrowly losing its A-10 opener at St. Bonaventure earlier this week. The Rams opened the year 4-0 with wins over Bellarmine, Boston College, Merrimack and Loyola (Md.). VCU has the best scoring margin in the league at +15 and has the third-best defense, giving up just 62.4 points per game.

Joe Bamisile ranks ninth in the league and leads the Rams with 16.7 points per game. He has scored at least 10 goals in all but one game this season. Bamisile is on a six-game double-digit winning streak, including three games with at least 20 points. He dropped his season-high 25 points against Colorado State.

Head coach Ryan Odom is in his second season at the helm with a 34-18 record at VCU.

HISTORY OF THE SERIES
VCU leads the all-time series 2-0. The Rams won their only meeting last season 74-67. Miles Ruby had his first career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.