Preview: Loyola Chicago Ramblers at George Washington Revolutionaries

WASHINGTON (Interstat) — Atlantic 10 Conference play continues Saturday at the Charles E. Smith Center as the surging George Washington Revolutionaries host the struggling Loyola Chicago Ramblers.

The Revolutionaries (11-5 overall) enter the matchup looking to rebound from a tough 79-72 road loss at Dayton on Tuesday. Despite the defeat, guard Tre Dinkins continued his stellar play, scoring 24 points. Dinkins has been a catalyst for GW, averaging 16.5 points over his last four games, including a 22-point, 8-rebound, 8-assist performance in a win at Richmond on Dec. 31.

George Washington has found success at home this season, most recently with a dominant 77-55 victory over La Salle on Jan. 3. Their 11-5 record marks a strong start under first-year coach Chris Caputo.

They will face a Loyola Chicago squad (5-11) seeking to end a two-game skid. The Ramblers are coming off a 79-64 home loss to Davidson on Wednesday. Guard Kymany Houinsou led Loyola with 13 points in that contest and has been a consistent contributor, averaging 8.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists over his last six games.

The Ramblers’ season has been defined by offensive struggles and defensive lapses. Since a 2-0 start in A-10 play with wins over Rhode Island and Dayton, they have lost two straight. Their five victories have largely come against mid-major opponents, with their most recent win being a 61-57 decision at Rhode Island on New Year’s Eve.

For Loyola to pull an upset on the road, they will need to contain Dinkins and find more consistent scoring beyond Houinsou and Nicolus Anderson, who also had 13 points against Davidson. George Washington will aim to exploit its home-court advantage and superior record to solidify its standing in the conference.

Saturday’s game tips off at 2:00 p.m. EST. George Washington will host Davidson next on Jan. 14, while Loyola Chicago returns home to face George Mason on Jan. 13.