CHICAGO (Interstat) — A game of runs and counter-runs culminated in a decisive second-half surge by Loyola Chicago, which pulled away from La Salle for a 71-61 victory in an Atlantic 10 Conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at Joseph Gentile Center.

In a contest that saw 10 ties and 15 lead changes, the Ramblers finally seized control with a 13-3 run midway through the second half, turning a one-point deficit into a nine-point lead from which the Explorers could not recover. The win improved Loyola Chicago to 6-18 overall, while La Salle fell to 7-16.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded over a tense five-minute span late in the second half. With La Salle clinging to a 50-49 lead after a Rob Dockery free throw with 12:15 remaining, the Ramblers unleashed their game-changing run. The surge was fueled by defensive stops and timely three-point shooting. Daniil Glazkov of Krasnodar, Russia, drained a three-pointer off an assist from Deywilk Tavarez, and on the next possession, Kayde Dotson connected on a deep step-back three-pointer to force a La Salle timeout with the Ramblers up 55-50.

La Salle’s offense, which had shown flashes of efficiency, went stagnant during this stretch, managing only a single free throw over five possessions. The Explorers committed two turnovers and missed three field goal attempts as Loyola Chicago built a 60-52 advantage. The Ramblers’ defense, which registered six blocks and four steals for the game, tightened significantly, disrupting La Salle’s rhythm and holding them to an offensive rating of 89.7 points per 100 possessions.

The first half was a tightly contested affair, ending in a 30-30 deadlock. La Salle opened the game on a 9-0 run, capitalizing on early Rambler misses and turnovers. Loyola Chicago slowly chipped away, eventually finding its footing from beyond the arc. The teams traded blows throughout the period, with neither able to establish more than a five-point lead.

La Salle was led by the backcourt duo of Jaden Johnson and Jaeden Marshall. Johnson, a guard from Baltimore, Maryland, played 36 minutes and filled the stat sheet with 16 points and eight assists. Marshall, from Hinesville, Georgia, also logged 36 minutes and scored a game-high 18 points. Ashton Walker of Virginia Beach, Virginia, added 10 points and four assists.

For Loyola Chicago, balance was key. Joshua Ola-Joseph of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, scored 16 points, while Justin Moore of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, added 12 points. Xavier Amos, a hometown product from Chicago, contributed 10 points and was a defensive presence with a block. The Ramblers shot 44.2% from the field and connected on 10 of 30 three-point attempts, outperforming La Salle’s 6-for-18 shooting from deep.

Despite committing 11 turnovers to La Salle’s 12, Loyola Chicago was more effective in converting possessions into points, posting an offensive rating of 104.6. The Ramblers also won the battle on the glass, securing seven offensive rebounds to La Salle’s five, which led to 11 second-chance points.

The game was a departure from the pregame statistical projections. Interstat’s ELO system had given Loyola Chicago a 68.4% probability to win, and the Ramblers were installed as a 2-point favorite. However, the combined point total of 132 fell short of the over/under line of 137.5.

The announced attendance was 1,906. The victory provides a positive note for Loyola Chicago as it prepares to hit the road to face Davidson on Friday. La Salle, meanwhile, will look to regroup before traveling to face Saint Louis on Saturday. Both teams remain in the thick of the Atlantic 10 schedule, seeking to build momentum in the final weeks of the regular season.