Loyola used a key first-half run and held off a second-half La Salle rally for a 64-54 victory Saturday at a sold-out Gentile Arena, giving the Ramblers a share of the Atlantic 10 regular-season title a year after they finished in last place.
Dame Adelekun had 12 points and 10 rebounds, Des Watson added 11 points and Miles Rubin and Braden Norris scored 10 each for Loyola (23-8, 15-3), which has a double-bye in next week’s A-10 Tournament. The Ramblers are the No. 2 seed and will play St. Bonaventure or the La Salle-George Washington winner at 5 p.m. Thursday in the quarterfinals at the Barclays Center in New York.
“At the end of last year, there weren’t a lot of people who believed that this was real, but people in that locker room did,” coach Drew Valentine said, according to the Loyola Athletics website. “Whether they were newcomers, freshman, transfers, or returners, they believed this was possible and going to happen.
“They made it happen. They had to be the ones to buy into what we’re coaching. They had to be the ones to go out there and execute and make plays with toughness and intensity. This year was all about pride and being part of this university and being a proud representation of Loyola Chicago basketball.”
Jhamir Brickus led the Explorers (15-16, 6-12) with 11 points.