CHICAGO (Interstat) — In a season defined by struggle, the Loyola Chicago Ramblers found a measure of redemption on their home floor Saturday, holding off the George Washington Revolutionaries 68-62 in an Atlantic 10 Conference men’s basketball game at Joseph J. Gentile Center.

The victory, witnessed by 2,714 fans, snapped a three-game losing streak for the Ramblers and avenged a 35-point loss to the same Revolutionaries team just two months prior. It improved Loyola Chicago’s record to 8-23 overall, while George Washington fell to 17-14.

The game’s decisive stretch came not with a dramatic late run, but with a methodical and persistent defensive effort that ultimately smothered the George Washington offense. The Revolutionaries, despite a significant 16-5 advantage in offensive rebounds that generated 21 second-chance points, could never find an offensive rhythm, shooting a frigid 33.3% from the field. Their struggles were particularly acute from beyond the arc, where they hit just 9 of 33 attempts.

Loyola Chicago, by contrast, operated with greater efficiency. The Ramblers shot 44% from the field and a solid 37% from three-point range. While George Washington dominated the glass, Loyola Chicago countered by winning the turnover battle, committing 12 to George Washington’s 10, and more critically, converting those miscues into 14 points while allowing only 8 points off their own. A 10-0 advantage in fastbreak points further underscored the Ramblers’ ability to capitalize on fleeting opportunities.

The contest was a tight, back-and-forth affair for most of the night. George Washington’s Jean Aranguren hit an early three-pointer for the game’s first points, but Loyola Chicago responded behind the play of local product Xavier Amos. The first half featured seven ties and five lead changes, with neither team leading by more than six points. The Ramblers took a narrow 31-27 lead into halftime after a late three-pointer from Kayde Dotson.

The second half followed a similar pattern of gritty, defensive-minded play. George Washington’s Rafael Castro, a force inside with 14 points and four blocks, kept the Revolutionaries close. His dunk off an assist from Christian Jones brought George Washington within 38-36 with just over 17 minutes to play.

The most important part of the game, however, unfolded over the next seven minutes. Loyola Chicago did not deliver a knockout blow, but instead slowly stretched the lead with key stops and timely scores. A three-pointer from Deywilk Tavarez pushed the lead to 47-44. After a Garrett Johnson three-pointer for George Washington made it 52-50, the Ramblers embarked on the critical sequence. A Miles Rubin block led to a transition opportunity, and Dotson found Tavarez for another three. On the next possession, Dotson himself connected from deep, capping an 8-0 run that gave Loyola Chicago a 60-52 advantage with 7:16 remaining.

George Washington fought back valiantly. A Johnson three-pointer and a Castro hook shot cut the deficit to 62-60 with just over four minutes left. But the Revolutionaries would get no closer. Their offense went silent down the stretch, managing only two points in the final four minutes on a pair of Tyrone Marshall free throws. Missed jumpers and costly turnovers plagued their final possessions, while Loyola Chicago sealed the game at the free-throw line, hitting six of eight attempts in the final two minutes.

Dotson, a guard from Beaumont, Texas, led all scorers with 17 points and added five assists, orchestrating the Loyola Chicago offense. Amos, from Chicago, contributed 15 points, while Tavarez added 12. Rubin anchored the defense with four blocks.

For George Washington, Johnson led the way with 17 points, and Castro added 14 points and four blocks. Christian Jones also scored 14 points. The loss was a setback for the Revolutionaries, who had entered the game as a nine-point favorite according to sportsbooks and had been projected with a nearly 65% chance to win by analytics systems. The combined 130 points fell well under the pregame over/under line of 152, a testament to the defensive struggle that defined the afternoon.

The Ramblers, despite their challenging season record, demonstrated significant improvement from their January meeting with George Washington, using disciplined defense and efficient scoring to secure a conference victory and halt their losing skid.