Loyola Chicago defeats Santa Clara 78-80

Loyola Chicago Edges Santa Clara in Thrilling 80-78 Victory

In a back-and-forth affair, Loyola Chicago (AWAY) outlasted Santa Clara (HOME) 80-78 at the Leavey Center on Saturday night, marking a crucial non-conference win for the Ramblers.

The game's primary storyline was one of resilience and determination, as both teams traded baskets and neither able to gain more than a two-point lead. At halftime, the score was knotted at 40-40, with Santa Clara leading in terms of field goals attempted (27 vs. 26). However, it was Loyola Chicago that emerged victorious, capitalizing on their advantage in free throw shooting to seal the win.

Kayde Dotson led all scorers for Loyola Chicago, finishing with 26 points on 5-12 three-point shooting. Xavier Amos chipped in with a strong defensive performance, grabbing six rebounds and scoring nine points off the bench. For Santa Clara, Christian Hammond paced the Bronocs with 25 points on 2-5 three-point shooting.

Statistically, both teams had their moments of brilliance. Loyola Chicago shot an impressive 49% from the field, while Santa Clara's 40% clip was nearly identical to their free throw success rate (78%). The Rambles also outrebounded the Bronocs 30-33, but made up for it with a slightly higher effective field goal percentage.

The game's largest leads were capped at six points in favor of both teams, indicating that neither team could truly gain momentum. Loyola Chicago's margin of victory was more a result of Santa Clara's struggles from the free throw line (14-18), as well as their own efficiency on offense, than any dramatic late-game surge.

This non-conference win for Loyla Chicago serves as a significant confidence booster for the program and sets up an intriguing matchup against an upcoming ranked opponent.