Loyola Chicago hosts West Georgia on Thursday after opening the season with a 77-52 win over The Citadel. The Ramblers’ new-look roster made an immediate impact: Dayan Nessah scored 19 points, while Jason Schofield and Guillaume Grotzinger recorded double-doubles.

By the Numbers
  • Loyola beat The Citadel, 77-52; four Ramblers scored in double figures.
  • Nessah scored 19 points, and Chris Jeffrey added a career-high 14.
  • Schofield had 10 points and 12 rebounds; Grotzinger posted 10 points and 11 assists.
  • Loyola has 14 newcomers, including 12 transfers, and returns 15.7% of last season’s scoring.
  • West Georgia lost its opener to DePaul, 75-58; Justin Redmond led the Wolves with 13 points.
Yes, But

Loyola’s opening win was encouraging, but the roster has little continuity: just two players return from last season. Jayden Dawson, a former Rambler who averaged 13.9 points in 2024-25, is practicing while awaiting a final ruling on his eligibility.

State of Play
  • Thursday’s game tips off at 7 p.m. at Gentile Arena.
  • It’s the first meeting between Loyola and West Georgia.
  • Loyola was picked 11th in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll; West Georgia was picked eighth in the United Athletic Conference.
What’s Next

Loyola will look to build on its opener and continue integrating its new roster. Dawson’s status remains dependent on the final eligibility decision.

Bottom Line

The Ramblers started strong, but Thursday offers an early test of whether a largely rebuilt team can sustain that momentum.