The Loyola Chicago Ramblers will face off against the Dayton Flyers in a highly anticipated college basketball matchup set for January 16, 2026, at 8:30 p.m. EST. The game, which will be broadcast live on ESPN2, sees Dayton heavily favored by 15.5 points against the Ramblers, with a moneyline of -2200 and an over/under total set at 142.5 points.
This game is particularly intriguing as the Flyers and Ramblers recently clashed, with Loyola Chicago narrowly losing by just two points after leading by as much as 15. However, many factors could lead to a different outcome in this second contest. One significant aspect is the home-court advantage for Dayton, which has historically proven to be substantial.
In their previous encounter, Loyola Chicago started strong, hitting 7-of-18 from three-point range in the first half. However, their performance faltered in the second half, shooting only 2-of-12 from beyond the arc. A crucial element disturbing Loyola’s gameplay was the increase in turnovers, with the Ramblers committing 10 in the second half, which allowed Dayton to capitalize with 14 second-chance points.
Dayton’s coach, Anthony Grant, is likely to employ zone defense and pressing strategies that have troubled Loyola in the past, as evidenced by their last-place ranking in turnover rate (24%) in the Atlantic 10 Conference. While Dayton has some injury concerns for notable players, they still boast solid perimeter defenses from resilient players like Javon Bennett and De’Shayne Montgomery. Montgomery’s aggressive play in the first matchup, where he recorded seven steals, demonstrates how effective Dayton’s defense can be.
Conversely, the Ramblers are grappling with injuries to key players Justin Moore and Kayde Dotson, who were instrumental in their last match, scoring 35 combined points and hitting seven three-pointers. Their potential absence could further exacerbate Loyola’s struggles against Dayton’s defensive pressure.
Despite the Flyers experiencing some injury problems themselves, their deep bench and home-court advantage could tilt the scales in their favor. If Dayton can start fast and exploit Loyola’s fragility in transition—where they have notably underperformed—the Flyers are projected to emerge victorious by a margin of 20 points or more.
As the excitement builds for this A-10 showdown, fans are eager to see if Dayton can capitalize on their advantages and assert their dominance on the court once again.