Loyola Ramblers Preview – https://loyolaramblers.com/news/2026/2/17/mens-basketball-loyola-opens-two-game-trip-at-fordham.aspx

Fordham Stats and Intel - https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/sc ... /2026.html

Record: 14-12 (5-8, 10th in A-10 MBB)
Coach: Mike Magpayo
PS/G: 70.8 (298th of 365)
PA/G: 65.1 (16th of 365)
SRS: 0.19 (152nd of 365)
SOS: -1.64 (186th of 365)
ORtg: 107.1 (235th of 365)
DRtg: 98.5 (36th of 365)
Preseason Odds: Championship +200000


Loyola Chicago Ramblers 6-20 (2-11) at Fordham Rams 14-12 (5-8) – 6:00PM CST, Rose Hill Gymnasium, The Bronx, New York, NY

The Ramblers hit the road this week and take on A10 surprise squad, the Fordham Rams. Tonight’s matchup will be a tough one as Fordham is one of the best coached teams in the entire A10, and they play an impressive style of defense holding opponents to 65ppg, which ranks #15th in the nation and at #36 in efficiency.

Last time they played, the Ramblers got expectedly blasted at home by #18 Saint Louis Billikens 86-59. Justin Moore led the ‘Blers with a dozen and Daniil Glazkov continued showing his development with a career-high 11 points and impressively hitting 3 threes and significantly improved shooting mechanics.

The Rams are 14-12 overall and 5-8 in the A-10 after winning their last two games. Fordham beat Saint Josephs' and Rhode Island last week to move up to 10th in the league standings.

Under coach Magpayo, Fordham is in position to improve drastically under his leadership and unique roster building which focuses hard on international recruits from Australia and via. Europe. Fordham started the season with a nice 9-4 record through their first 13 games. Then in the next 7 games, the Rams lost to Dayton, Richmond, George Mason, Saint Louis, Duquesne and Davidson, and 1 win over the Bonnies, putting them at a 1-7 hole to start league play. After that came a 4-2 run with wins over La Salle, George Washington, Saint Joseph’s and Rhode Island, giving the team a 14-12 record this year.

In their last game on Saturday against Rhode Island, the Rams were down at halftime 31-24. Fordham roared back on a 39-32 run and managed to force overtime and a 70-66 comeback victory on the road.

Fordham likely wins tonight because they simply play defense and value playing it – and that produces their wins. The Rams hold their opponents to the fewest points scored in the conference, 65.1. This ranks 15th in the NCAA in scoring defense, with a top-40 rating in efficiency. Fordham also ranks third in the conference in field goal percentage defense (.418).

Dejour Reaves leads the A-10 in scoring with 17.2 points per game. He's scored double-figures in every game this season, including six 20-point games and one 30-point game. Reaves dropped a season-high 31 against St. Bonaventure during their first league victory of the year. Reaves ranks 52nd in the nation with 168 FG’s made this year. Christian Henry is averaging 10.4 points and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 32.7% over the last 10 games.

The Rams are 8-7 in home games. Fordham ranks third in the A-10 with 24.7 defensive rebounds per game led by Rikus Schulte averaging 5.4.

Head coach Mike Magpayo is in his first season with the Rams. Magpayo was 2023 Big West Coach of the Year, where he served as the head coach at UC Riverside for the past five years where he went 89-63 W/L. He hails from the Kyle Smith (Nerd Ball) USF coaching tree originating under Saint Mary’s Randy Bennett, which has also produced protégés, Todd Golden and Kevin Hovde. This trio plus Magpayo are highly regarded as CBB’s rising stars in the coaching profession.


Fordham Probable Starters – 6-10 F Abass Bodija, 6-0 G Dejour Reaves, 6-9 F Rikus Shulte, 6-9 F Akira Jacobs, 6-6 G Louis Lesmond.

Loyola Probable Starters - Rubin, Amos, TBD, Moore, Dotson


LAST 10 GAMES FOR BOTH SQUADS

Rams: 5-5, averaging 67.0 points, 32.4 rebounds, 12.4 assists, 8.0 steals and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 41.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.3 points per game.

Ramblers: 1-9, averaging 65.3 points, 31.8 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 4.2 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 41.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 82.1 points.


Watch / Listen – Wednesday night’s game will be streamed on ESPN+, and can be listened to Rambler Sports Network with our friends Sudikoff and CT.

Postgame Show - Tune in to Sudikoff on RSN, followed by TalkinBlers Spaces on the X: https://x.com/blerstalking?s=21


Odds: Fordham -8.5

Beat the spread ...yes?