Schofield’s work on the glass powers Loyola past The Citadel in opener

Loyola Chicago’s season began with a long defensive stand and ended with a result built around control of the boards. The Ramblers defeated The Citadel 77–52 at Gentile Arena on November 2, giving Drew Valentine’s team a 1–0 start and an opening-week performance that offered more than a hot stretch of shooting.

Dayan Nessah led Loyola with 19 points. Jason Schofield and Guillaume Grotzinger supplied different kinds of double-doubles: Schofield finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds, while Grotzinger paired 10 points with 11 assists. Together, their production connected the frontcourt’s work around the basket with the passing that kept the offense moving.

Loyola’s account of the game describes a 12–0 opening run and a defense that kept the Bulldogs scoreless until 10:39 remained in the first half. That was an immediate advantage, but it did not remove the need to respond later. The Ramblers took a 36–27 lead into halftime, leaving The Citadel within reach despite its difficult start.

Schofield gives Loyola extra chances

The official box score shows why the game did not depend on Loyola winning a three-point contest. The Ramblers made eight of 29 attempts from beyond the arc and seven of 13 free throws. Those were imperfect shooting categories in a comfortable victory. Their advantages came closer to the basket and through the number of opportunities they created.

Loyola finished with 22 offensive rebounds, compared with 10 for The Citadel, and held a 43–26 edge overall. Schofield collected nine offensive boards himself. The Ramblers produced 18 second-chance points and a 44–14 advantage in paint scoring. Those figures describe a game in which missed shots frequently extended Loyola possessions instead of ending them.

Schofield arrived with experience that made that contribution more than a surprise opening-night cameo. Loyola lists the 6-foot-10 senior center as a transfer from Marist, where he appeared in 54 games over two seasons. His university biography records averages of eight points and four rebounds in his final season there, along with field-goal shooting above 54 percent.

That background supplies useful context for his first regular-season outing as a Rambler. A center does not have to lead the scoring column to change how an offense functions. Keeping a possession alive makes the defense work again, while a reliable interior option gives a team another route through a night when its perimeter accuracy is ordinary. Monday offered a concrete example of that value.

The Citadel finds scoring, but cannot erase the gap

The visitors had productive individual stretches. The Citadel’s report identifies Joe Hurlburt as its leading scorer with 11 points and seven rebounds in his Bulldog debut. He made all three of his three-point attempts. Chicago natives Marcos Gonzales and Keynan Davis each scored 10 points, bringing a local connection to the visiting lineup.

The Bulldogs also found a way to make the second-half opening uncomfortable for Loyola. Their account records an Eddrin Bronson three-pointer soon after the break, followed by a Gonzales three that reduced the margin to 39–33. Loyola answered with 11 straight points before Tyler Mrus connected on consecutive threes for The Citadel. Hurlburt subsequently brought the visitors within 54–42.

That sequence matters because the final margin alone can make an opener look simpler than it was. The Bulldogs generated a route back into the contest and required a response. Loyola had to rebuild separation after the break; its initial defensive burst was a foundation, rather than a substitute for finishing the remaining possessions.

Nessah leads a balanced opening night

Nessah’s scoring gave Loyola a clear first option without turning the evening into a one-player offense. The university lists him as a 6-foot-8 junior guard from Geneva, Switzerland. His size adds another dimension to a lineup whose opening victory featured both frontcourt rebounding and guard playmaking. One game cannot establish how those pieces will perform throughout conference play, but it provides an initial reference point.

Chris Jeffrey added 14 points off the bench, according to Loyola’s recap. Four Ramblers reached double figures, and the home team finished the second half with 41 points. The spread of contributions gave Loyola several ways to sustain pressure while The Citadel tried to recover from its opening deficit.

The next test is already close. Loyola’s published game report lists West Georgia at Gentile Arena on November 5, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. Central. For the Ramblers, the useful standard from the opener is repeatable work: creating extra possessions, moving the ball and responding when an opponent cuts into the lead. Those habits gave their first regular-season win a firm base.