ST. LOUIS — On Saturday, Saint Louis achieved a commanding 98-67 victory over Loyola Chicago, thanks in large part to Gibson Jimerson’s outstanding performance. Jimerson’s 33 points propelled the Billikens into a four-way competition for third place in the Atlantic-10 Conference. With just two games remaining in the regular season, this result has intensified the race for conference standings.
Loyola Chicago, who held third place before the game, now finds itself in a tie with Dayton, Saint Joseph’s, and Saint Louis. All four teams trail conference leader VCU by four games, adding pressure to the final stages of the regular season.
Gibson Jimerson showcased his accuracy and range, finishing with an impressive 9 of 17 from beyond the arc and a perfect 6 for 6 from the free-throw line for the Billikens, who now stand at 17-12 overall and 10-6 in the conference. Robbie Avila contributed significantly with 28 points, having shot 6 of 9 from the field, with a flawless 3 for 3 from three-point range, and 13 for 15 from the free-throw line. Avila also contributed seven rebounds and five assists. Isaiah Swope added 12 points, shooting 4 for 10 overall and 2 for 8 from deep.
For the Ramblers, Miles Rubin delivered a solid performance with 16 points, while Jayden Dawson and Des Watson added 14 and 11 points, respectively. However, their efforts were not enough to prevent the end of Loyola Chicago’s five-game winning streak.
The Billikens secured the lead early, just over a minute and a half into the game, and maintained their dominance throughout. By halftime, they held a 53-33 advantage, with Jimerson scoring 19 points in the first half alone. In the second half, Saint Louis extended their margin by an additional 11 points, aided by Avila’s team-high 16 points during this period.
Looking ahead, Saint Louis is scheduled to face Dayton on the road this Tuesday, while Loyola Chicago prepares to host Davidson on Wednesday. Both teams will be striving to bolster their standings as the regular season draws to a close.
