SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Following the recent postponement of their conference matchup with Gonzaga, the University of San Francisco men's basketball team (13-1, 0-0) is now set to battle Loyola Chicago (9-2, 1-0) in a neutral site showdown in Salt Lake City on Thursday afternoon.
 
GAME 15 INFORMATION:
Date/Time: Thursday, Jan. 6, 2021 – 11:00 a.m. PT/12:00 pm MT
Opponent: Loyola Chicago (9-2, 4-0 Missouri Valley Conference)
Site: Lifetime Activities Center/Salt Lake City Community College (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Video: WCC Network 
Listen: KNBR 1050 (Pat Olson + Jim Brovelli)
Live Stats: SIDEARM Live Stats 
Tickets: Purchase Here (Must be purchased online, will not be available on-site on day of game)
 
DONS AT A GLANCE:

• Closing out the 2021 calendar year with a local matchup, USF downed Academy of Art in dominant fashion, 111-78, in their last time out on Tuesday, Dec. 28 behind the strength of five different Dons finishing in double figures. Leading the charge, Khalil Shabazz and Jamaree Bouyea paced the team with 18 points each while Gabe Stefanini (17 points), Yauhen Massalski (12 points) and Julian Rishwain (12 points) all enjoyed success offensively. Defensively, Massalski also proved to be a force down low as he finished with a game-high nine rebounds and two blocks. As a team, USF set a new program record with 20 made three-pointers as the Dons shot a scorching 20-of-40 from distance against the Urban Knights.
• Heading into Thursday, Bouyea had continued his torrid start on the hardwood as the 6'1" guard currently ranks second in the WCC in scoring (17.8 ppg), third in total points (249), fourth in minutes per game (34.7), fourth in made three-pointers (38), fourth in steals (22), fifth in total minutes (486) and sixth in blocks (16). 
• Notably, Khalil Shabazz also leads the conference in steals per game with an average of 1.9 per game while Julian Rishwain sits atop the leaderboard with a 50.0 percent clip from beyond-the-arc.
• Getting it done on both ends, USF currently leads the WCC in three pointers made per game (10.4), three pointers attempted per game (27.4) and steals per game (7.9). Overall, the Dons also rank in the top three in blocks per game (5.0, second), three-point field goal percentage (48.0, third), points per game (76.1), field goals per game (27.3), defensive rebounds per game (28.6), total rebounds per game (38.9, third), rebound margin per game (8.1, third), opponent field goal percentage (39.9, third) and opponent three-point field goal percentage (28.2, third). 

SCOUTING THE RAMBLERS:

• Eager to get back on the court, Loyola Chicago will compete for the first time since Dec. 10 on Thursday as their previous five games have been canceled or postponed due to COVID-19 related protocols. Victorious in six of their last nine times on a neutral floor, the Ramblers have also won 12 of their last 15 contests versus non-league opponents.
• As a whole, Loyola Chicago is 23-13 (.639) all-time against the West Coast Conference as they currently hold a four-game winning streak following two pairs of wins over San Diego and USF.
• Molding into one of the most consistent mid-major programs in the country, the Ramblers are 28-4 (.875) since the beginning of last season. Overall, three of those losses came to power conference opponents while the other was to Drake, who made the NCAA Tournament in 2020-21. This season, Loyola Chicago has fallen only twice, both to teams who are now currently ranked inside the top ten nationally- Michigan State and Auburn.
• Individually, two student-athletes average double figures for the Ramblers: Lucas Williamson (11.6 ppg) and Ryan Schwieger (11.5 ppg). Additionally, Williamson also leads the team in rebounding (5.4 rpg) and total steals (13) while also sitting second in total assists (32) and total blocks (5). 

SERIES HISTORY:

• Thursday's matchup will mark the sixth meeting all-time between the two programs and the first since 2010. In their previous battle, Loyola Chicago squeezed by USF, 63-62, in San Francisco on Nov. 27, 2010. Overall, the Ramblers have captured three of the last four meetings between the teams, including the last two as they hold a 3-2 advantage in the all-time series. Notably, the Dons topped Loyola Chicago, 49-48, in their first matchup in 1949 to be crowned NIT Champions that season. 

TRACK THE ACTION:
Thursday's contest will air live on the WCC Network at 11:00 am PT/12:00 pm MT as Joe Cravens and Jon Oglesby will have the call from Lifetime Activites Center. Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli will also air live on KNBR 1050 at game time. Live streaming, live audio, live statistics and tickets are available above and via the team's schedule page.
 
TICKETS AND MERCHANDISE:
Single-game tickets for non-conference basketball games are currently on sale at www.usfdons.com/tickets. Tickets for West Coast Conference opponents are now also on sale and can be purchased here.
 
Want to dress like the Dons? Rep USF today by visiting the all-new USF Dons online store at www.usfdons.com/shop.
 
FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the USF men's basketball program, follow the Dons @USFDonsMBB on Twitter, @USFDonsMBB on Instagram and @USFDonsMBB on Facebook.