San Francisco v. Loyola (IL)

Who will WIN this matchup?

San Francisco Dons (13-1)

Loyola (IL) Ramblers (9-2)

Current odds:

San Francisco Dons: (+125)

Loyola (IL) Ramblers: (-145)

• The line for this game is Ramblers by 2.5 points.

• Eager to get back on the court, Loyola Chicago will compete for the first time since Dec. 10 on Thursday as their previous five games have been canceled or postponed due to COVID-19 related protocols. Victorious in six of their last nine times on a neutral floor, the Ramblers have also won 12 of their last 15 contests versus non-league opponents.

• As a whole, Loyola Chicago is 23-13 (.639) all-time against the West Coast Conference as they currently hold a four-game winning streak following two pairs of wins over San Diego and USF.

• Molding into one of the most consistent mid-major programs in the country, the Ramblers are 28-4 (.875) since the beginning of last season. Overall, three of those losses came to power conference opponents while the other was to Drake, who made the NCAA Tournament in 2020-21. This season, Loyola Chicago has fallen only twice, both to teams who are now currently ranked inside the top ten nationally- Michigan State and Auburn.

• Individually, two student-athletes average double figures for the Ramblers: Lucas Williamson (11.6 ppg) and Ryan Schwieger (11.5 ppg). Additionally, Williamson also leads the team in rebounding (5.4 rpg) and total steals (13) while also sitting second in total assists (32) and total blocks (5).

• Since suffering its lone defeat of the season, a 49-48 heartbreaker versus Grand Canyon, San Francisco has rattled off three consecutive victories, including a 64-52 decision over Southern Illinois on December 22.

• The Dons are 3-1 on neutral floors and 4-1 away from home this season.

• Guard Jamaree Bouyea is having a sensational season and leads the Dons with 17.8 points per game and chips in 5.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists per outing, while shooting 44.2 percent (38-for-86) from long distance.

• Forward Yauhen Massalski, one of eight players on the San Francisco roster who hail from foreign countries, contributes 13.6 ppg and a team-high 7.9 rpg, and he connects on 60.4 percent (81-for-134) of his field goal tries.

• The Dons, who rank 19th in the nation in three-point field goals made per game (10.4), are also one of the stingiest three-point field defenses in the nation, allowing opponents to connect on 28.2 percent (70-for-251) of their triple tosses.