Loyola Ramblers Preview – https://loyolaramblers.com/news/2025/11 ... state.aspx

Cleveland State Stats and Intel - https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/sc ... /2025.html

Record: 23-13 (14-6, 2nd in Horizon MBB)
Coach: Daniyal Robinson
PS/G: 73.1 (201st of 364)
PA/G: 66.5 (37th of 364)
SRS: -1.54 (168th of 364)
SOS: -3.85 (231st of 364)
ORtg: 109.1 (133rd of 364)
DRtg: 99.3 (51st of 364)

Record: 0-0 (Horizon MBB)
Coach: Rob Summers


Cleveland State Vikings vs. Loyola Chicago Ramblers – 7:00pm CST Gentile Arena, Chicago IL

College basketball is back!

The Loyola Ramblers welcome the Cleveland State Vikings to open the 2025-26 college basketball season. The Ramblers are coming off a memorable NIT semifinal run in Indianapolis while Cleveland State finished the season 23-13, the program’s 4th consecutive 20-win season.

Cleveland State is projected to finish in 8th in the Horizon this year because of a full roster turnover and the departure of head coach, Daniyal Robinson, who took the job at North Texas.

The Ramblers finished 25-12 last season and placed third in the Atlantic 10 with a 12-6 conference mark. Head coach Drew Valentine enters his 5th season, amassing a record of 83-51 in his first four seasons.

The Ramblers, projected to finish 5th in the 2025-26 Atlantic-10 Conference Preseason Poll, comes into the 2025-26 season with a roster of 8 returning players and 8 newcomers (5 transfers, 2 freshmen, 1 international).

Of the returnees and starters, Miles Rubin (center) will be looked at as an offensive centerpiece for the first time in his collegiate career. “There’s going to be a concerted effort to get him more touches,” Valentine said in last week’s A10 preview. “I think he’s really improved as a driver on the perimeter. Within our five out, some people will back the big off and play him in drop coverage. I think he’s improved in that area.”

Rubin had a busy offseason. Physically, he worked to add 15 pounds of muscle to his previously wiry frame, ensuring he is better able to handle interior physicality at both ends of the court. He also spent time with a shooting coach to make his offensive game more dynamic.

Senior wing and Swiss-army knife, Kymany Houinsou (6.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.3 apg) started 24 games last season and possesses a nifty all-around skillset defensively and offensively.

The Ramblers also bring starting PG, Justin Moore back from a knee injury that ended his season last year after nine games. Moore handled a heavy workload in the Ramblers’ 92-90 overtime exhibition loss at DePaul on Oct. 19, scoring 26 points on 9 of 15 shooting in 42 minutes. Moore’s shooting has drastically improved over the offseason, and Valentine believes Moore will be the best PG in the league.

In the two exhibition games, newcomer transfers started for the Ramblers - Senior forward Joshua Ola-Joseph (7.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg at California) and 6-1 sophomore guard Kayde Dotson (2.3 ppg at New Mexico). Both will play substantial roles as spot starters/first subs, as will junior guard Deywilk Tavarez, who transferred from College of Charleston. Tavarez was the MEAC’s rookie of the year two seasons ago at Delaware State, then jumped up to the CAA and averaged 12.9 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 41.5 percent at College of Charleston. He dropped 30 points on the Ramblers in the Diamond Head Classic last December. Additionally, Dominick Harris (UCLA, Loyola Marymount, and Gonzaga), and Xavier Amos (Wisconsin, Northern Illinois) look to contribute too – Amos especially when he returns from hand injury.

If you thought the Ramblers had a deep roster the prior 2 seasons, look no further than this 2025-26 squad. The Ramblers could play 9-10-11 or more (at full strength) depending on the continued development and play of returning sophomore, Daniil Glazkov, and freshmen Chuck Love and Nic Anderson.

Loyola is a familiar foe for Cleveland State as the two teams competed against each other in the Horizon League for many years. Loyola was a charter member of the league and competed in the conference for 34 years before joining the Missouri Valley Conference in 2013 and subsequently joining their current conference, the Atlantic 10, in 2022. The Vikings and Ramblers will meet for the 45th time on Monday night with Loyola holding a 24-20 edge in the all-time series. This is just the second time the two teams meet as non-conference opponents. The first and most recent matchup between the two teams took place on December 16, 2015 when Cleveland State defeated the Ramblers, 60-54 at Gentile.

Cleveland State features a brand-new roster, and 15 newcomers who will hit the floor for the first time Monday night. Cleveland State is one of 6 D1 schools to have a full team of new players, bringing back zero returning points and zero returning scholarship players.


Cleveland State Probable Starters – N/A

Loyola Probable Starters – Rubin, Ola-Joseph, Houinsou, Moore, Dotson


LAST 10 GAMES FOR BOTH SQUADS
N/A


Watch / Listen – Monday night’s game is regionally broadcast on Marquee Sports and ESPN+ with Jordan Bernfield and Nick DiNardi 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 -15.5 (as of 9:30pm 11/2)

Anyone know how long Amos is scheduled to be out?

Appreciate the preview!

New basketball season and a new squealing fan behind the announcers. Nice, I guess I’ll watch in silence. Nice write-up! I appreciate you taking them over from JCT.

Looks like they didn't bother playing defense or rebounding.

Agreed, all offense-all the time.

Defense non-existent. Rare that an opposing team scores over 75 at Gentile. Blers had single digit TOs so that's a bright spot, along with Love III and Tavares performances. Lots to work on.

I say this with all sincerity and honesty--is there someone we can reach out to re the broadcast sound? There is a mic set up right in the student section that picks up every word and sound from one female student. And she screams all game. Every call, every basket. It is atrocious. That mic needs to be moved. It is somewhat embarrassing for an otherwise solid broadcast effort.

(And yes, I know the radio is a good alternative--I do listen on the radio when not in front of my TV. But I also like the TV broadcast team)

I'll have other thoughts on the game--namely, Tavarez and Love looked awesome and defense looked atrocious--but had to get this off my chest.

There is no mic there that's just the sound being picked up by the broadcaster's headsets. Probably hear it on our radio broadcast as well, but it's not right behind us...so it's not as loud. Happens with the national TV crews as well, although they have a better time adjusting for it probably.