Loyola Ramblers Preview – https://loyolaramblers.com/news/2025/3/25/mens-basketball-loyola-hosts-kent-state-in-nit-quarterfinal.aspx

Kent State Stats and Intel - https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/kent-state/men/2025.html

Record: 24-11 (11-7, 3rd in MAC MBB)
Coach: Rob Senderoff
PS/G: 73.9 (178th of 364)
PA/G: 68.2 (63rd of 364)
SRS: 1.78 (126th of 364)
SOS: -2.74 (195th of 364)
ORtg: 108.6 (147th of 364)
DRtg: 100.3 (71st of 364)


NIT Quarterfinals – Kent State Golden Flashes (24-11, 11-7) at Loyola Chicago Ramblers (24-11, 12-6) – 6:00pm CST Gentile Arena, Chicago IL

The Kent State Golden Flashes and Loyola Chicago Ramblers meet Wednesday night in the NIT Quarterfinal at Gentile Arena. Winner of this game advances to the NIT semifinals at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis to play Chattanooga on Tuesday, April 1st.

How we got here – On Sunday night at San Francisco, Jayden Dawson was lit, scoring a career-high 35 points in a chaotic 77-76 winner. The game saw 14 lead changes, a second half 13-point lead evaporate, and several officiating blunders. The Ramblers escaped with victory on a missed USF layup and putback that went in milliseconds after the buzzer. Malik Thomas of USF led the Dons with 36.

Then shortly afterwards, Kent State defeated Stanford in their second-round game, 77-75. This one was also entertaining till the end, with both Kent State and Stanford exchanging a few second half leads with one another. If Stanford had not given up their second half lead and won, the Ramblers would have remained in California to play this QF game. But since the lower-seeded Kent State won, the Ramblers have been awarded this bonus final home game of the season.

Like us, Kent State is also 24-11 on the season, winning their prior 2 NIT matchups against St. Bonaventure and Stanford. The Golden Flashes are a competitive team in the MAC, finished the season in 3rd place, and are also an impressive 10-5 in road games. This team is also two seasons removed from their last NCAA Tournament appearance when they went (28-7, 15-3) losing to Indiana in the 2023 first round. Some of that season’s experienced tournament roster is still playing. Numbers wise, Kent State is okay to good defensively, 63rd in the nation points allowed (68.2) and 71st in field goal percentage defense (.419). Offensively, they shoot 31.4 % from beyond the arc and 75.1% from FT’s.

Kent State is in the top 20 in field goal attempt rate, and they've also been one of the strongest teams in the nation when it comes to generating second chance points. The Ramblers have struggled with ball security this season and their slow rotation on the defensive end should see them send Kent State to the line a fair amount here. Lastly, the Flashes get to the line often, and this could help keep the game close.

Two guys of theirs to pay closely attention to are 5-10 senior guard, Jalen Sullinger (15.8ppg), and 6-5 senior forward Voncameron Davis (14.5ppg). Both lead the Golden Flashes in scoring and are All-MAC second team and first team award winners. Morgan Safford is their third double-digit scorer at 10.6ppg. Defensively, Kent State is anchored by 6-9 center, Cli’Ron Hornbeak, who is the MAC’s defensive player of the year. Like we’ve experienced with most teams leading scorer point guards, Sullinger can go off for 30+ on any night. Most recently, he had a career-high 34 at Stanford on Sunday, and games of 29 and 31 these last few weeks.

The Sullingers are one of Ohio's most notable basketball families. Jalen's grandfather, Satch, was a legendary high school coach at Northland High School in Columbus, OH. His father J.J. (2003-2006) and uncle Jared (2010-2012) were both standouts at Ohio State – and Jared an All-American his two seasons.

Loyola Chicago has won 12 of its last 15 games since February 1st and has won 16 of 17 games at home this season. Give Kent State credit for getting here after two road upsets, but that shoe must drop eventually. Loyola Chicago is a program that’s used to tournament success over the last decade, and that experience and culture matters right now.

Kent State Probable Starters – 6-1 G Mike Bekelja, 6-5 F Voncameron Davis, 6-8 F Delrecco Gillespie, 5-11 G Cian Medley, 5-10 G Jalen Sullinger.

Loyola Probable Starters – Watson, Dawson, Edwards Jr., Quinn, Rubin


LAST 10 GAMES FOR BOTH SQUADS

Ramblers: 8-2, averaging 73.0 points, 34.2 rebounds, 15.4 assists, 5.9 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 44.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.1 points per game.

Golden Flashes: 7-3, averaging 80.2 points, 36.8 rebounds, 12.4 assists, 7.4 steals and 2.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.7 points.


Watch / Listen – Sunday night’s game is nationally televised on ESPN2 with Mark Neely and Mark Wise on the call, 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: Loyola -5

small quick guards always seem to give us trouble....

Need JQ to be on one tonight defensively.

Rumor this afternoon, Senderoff is getting looks from Fordham for their opening…..

Any word on Houinsou?

You know the gods are with you when you hit a bankshot three.

Fun game; Kent state played real well the first half and we came out and blitzed them the 2nd half. Great game from Rubin, nice team play and ball movement, 20 assists so the guys were sharing. Watson and Quinn had a few brain lapses but overall we were under 10 turnover, finished with 7 which was fantastic. 56% on free throws, hopefully we can get that back to the 70-80% range in Indy.

Looked like a great atmosphere at Gentile, nice way to send out the season at home. This team is night and day from the beginning of the year and Hawaii. It’s been a lot of fun to watch Drew and the team grow. They have played up to their potential the past few months and it been a blast to see. On to Ondy, let’s bring the championship home.

I know it’s just the NIT, but tonight was a great look for the program. Less than 48 hours notice to sell tickets, and the place was pretty full. That’s with people like me unable to go on short notice due to work! And we got a ton of coverage on local news. And we get another week of media side-eye…”wait, let’s check this out”…To me all of that is still crazy to think about, compared to what it used to be like.

Great crowd, it was another electric night at the Joe and thank you to the students!!

Great job pulling away from Kent State (although up by 19 we won by 10)

Only 7 TOs, but FTs ugly at 56%

36 pts in paint to KS 24
6 blocks to KS 1
20 assists to KS 6
5 steals to KS 3
2nd chance pts 18 to KS 10

Miles, a monster 18 pts!
DeLoach 4 blocks , of the teams 6
JQ with 2 triples, be great if it is a start to something better for JQ.

Drew is growing in his game coaching

Hey, we are putting up Ws without Moore and Houinsou and we got the job done and we are playing better it seems game by game and it is the right time to do that!

Go Ramblers
Indy here we come!

Really fun win. Electric atmosphere. The students showed up BIG TIME. Might be one of the largest student sections the NIT has seen! Think I saw there were close to 2k students in attendance!

It can't be said enough--Miles Rubin is an incredible player. His offensive game has developed exponentially in the 2nd half of this season. He is so strong at finishing at the rim. I REALLY hope we can hang on to him. He will be the centerpiece of the team next year.

On to Indy to play Chattanooga, who knocked off two familiar foes, Dayton and Bradley, in their last two NIT games. So they will be tough. At a familiar arena--Hinkle. Forgot the severe lack of hotels around there. But am excited to make the trek. Hope we bring a student bus down!