Philip Alston had a team-high 15 points, but Loyola suffered a 75-62 loss to No. 10 Florida Atlantic in its season opener Wednesday night at Wintrust Arena. 

The Owls went on a 17-2 run in the first half to break open a two-point game. They withstood several pushes in the second half by the Ramblers. FAU led by 18 early in the second before Loyola scored 11 straight, closing to 50-43. But FAU regrouped.

“Big picture, that is a top-10 team, and it’s our first game,” Alston said. “So that’s a gauge, that’s where we want to be by the end of the year. I thought that gives us a little confidence that obviously we know we can play with anybody.”

OWLS PREVAIL

Sister Jean, who became a celebrity during Loyola’s Final Four run, was on hand for the game, which was part of a doubleheader sponsored by Barstool Sports, with Arizona State playing Mississippi State later. The beloved 104-year-old nun had to like what she was seeing when Alston scored in the paint to cut it to 24-22. 

Weatherspoon quickly quieted the crowd at Wintrust Arena — about 10 miles south of Loyola’s home on the Far North Side — when he nailed a 3 to start a 17-2 run. Bryan Greenlee finished it with a layup that bumped the lead to 41-24 with 1:47 remaining in the half.

FAU led by 18 early in the second before Loyola scored 11 straight, pulling within 50-43 on a corner 3 by Patrick Mwamba. But FAU regrouped.

It was 56-48 when Goldin scored on a hook. Boyd scored on a fastbreak layup, Weatherspoon hit a free throw and Jalen Gaffney hit a jumper to bump the lead to 63-48 with just under eight minutes remaining.

BIG PICTURE

Loyola: The Ramblers at least put up a fight against a championship contender. That’s promising for a team that went 10-21 last season. 

UP NEXT

Loyola: The Ramblers will try to bounce back when Eastern Illinois visits Gentile Arena on Saturday.