CHICAGO — Des Watson delivered an impressive performance for Loyola Chicago, scoring 24 points as the Ramblers secured a convincing 76-54 victory over Eastern Michigan on Tuesday evening.

Watson’s shooting was particularly strong, hitting 8 of his 12 attempts from the field, including 3 of 5 from beyond the arc, and converting 5 of 6 free-throw attempts. His contributions were vital in helping the Ramblers improve their record to 7-0. Francis Nwaokorie had a solid outing as well, contributing 11 points while going a perfect 4 for 4 from the field, including 3 for 3 from three-point territory, and grabbing seven rebounds. Additionally, Justin Moore added another 11 points for Loyola, shooting 5 of 10 overall, with one of his three attempts from deep.

On the other side, Christian Henry was the standout for Eastern Michigan (5-4), leading his team with 21 points and securing two steals. Da’Sean Nelson contributed 13 points and also had six steals, while Yusuf Jihad chipped in with six points.

Loyola Chicago made its mark early in the game, taking the lead just 18 minutes and 26 seconds into the first half, a position they maintained throughout the contest. Watson was particularly effective in the first half, scoring 13 points and helping the team build a substantial 39-26 advantage by halftime. The Ramblers continued to pull away in the second half, extending their lead to 63-41, thanks to a quick 7-0 scoring run. Watson again led the charge in the final half, scoring 11 points as the team finished strong to secure the win.