The Saint Louis Billikens, with their impressive 11-0 conference record, are looking to extend their 5-game win streak as they visit the Loyola University Chicago Ramblers, who are struggling with a 2-10 conference record and a recent form of L-W-L-L-L, with only 2 wins in their last 10 games, including a 71-64 loss to the Fordham Rams. The Ramblers' 6-19 overall record and 310 NET ranking make this game a must-win for them to have any chance of turning their season around, with 19 losses already, the most in the A10 conference.
Saint Louis Billikens' 23-1 Record is the Best in the A10 Conference
The game is scheduled for February 13, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET, and will be played at the Gentile Arena, with the TV channel and streaming information to be announced. The Saint Louis Billikens want to capitalize on their strong 23-1 record and extend their unbeaten conference streak, while the Loyola University Chicago Ramblers will be seeking to pull off a major upset, having lost 9 of their last 10 games, including a 65-53 loss to the Duquesne Dukes.
The Saint Louis Billikens have been one of the top teams in the country, with a 23-1 overall record and an 11-0 conference record, boasting a 2-0 Quad 1 record and a 3-1 Quad 2 record, with 7 wins in Quad 3 and 10 wins in Quad 4. Their strong NET ranking of 16 and impressive quad record make them a lock for the tournament, with a 92.1% chance of making the top-16 seed line, according to recent projections. The Billikens have been on a 5-game win streak, with an average margin of victory of 15.2 points, including a 85-63 win over the George Mason Patriots.
Key Matchups
The Loyola University Chicago Ramblers, on the other hand, are struggling to find their footing, with a 6-19 overall record and a 2-10 conference record, including a 1-1 Quad 1 record, but struggling in Quad 2 with a 1-5 record, and 0-9 in Quad 3, with only 4 wins in Quad 4. Their NET ranking of 310 makes it an uphill battle to make the tournament, with only a 0.5% chance of making the field, according to recent projections. The Ramblers have lost 5 of their last 6 games, with an average margin of defeat of 12.8 points, including a 78-64 loss to the Richmond Spiders.
The Saint Louis Billikens' strong offense, averaging 82.1 points per game, will face off against the Loyola University Chicago Ramblers' defense, which has allowed an average of 74.5 points per game, with the Billikens boasting a +10.3 point differential, the highest in the A10 conference. The Ramblers must find a way to slow down the Billikens' high-powered offense, which has scored 80 or more points in 15 of their 24 games, including a 95-71 win over the La Salle Explorers. The Billikens' 49.5% field goal percentage will be a challenge for the Ramblers' 42.1% field goal percentage defense, which has allowed opponents to shoot 45.6% from the field in their last 5 games.
CHD Scout Prediction
Saint Louis
92
Loyola Chicago
60
For the Saint Louis Billikens, players like Gibson Jimerson, who is averaging 15.6 points per game, and Javon Pickett, who is averaging 12.1 points per game, will be key to their success, with Jimerson shooting 43.2% from three-point range, the highest on the team. For the Loyola University Chicago Ramblers, players like Braden Norris, who is averaging 12.5 points per game, and Philip Alston, who is averaging 10.3 points per game, must step up their game if they hope to pull off the upset, with Norris averaging 4.2 assists per game, the most on the team.
Tournament Stakes
The CHD Scout prediction has the Saint Louis Billikens winning by 32.4 points, with a 1.1% win probability for the Loyola University Chicago Ramblers, indicating a likely blowout victory for the Billikens, with the Ramblers' 1-5 Quad 2 record and 0-9 Quad 3 record making it difficult for them to compete against top-tier teams like the Billikens. The Billikens' strong offense and defense, combined with their impressive quad record, make them a heavy favorite in this matchup, with a 98.9% chance of covering the spread.
A win for the Saint Louis Billikens would further solidify their position on the top-16 seed line, with their NET ranking of 16 and impressive quad record making them a lock for the tournament, with a 95.6% chance of making the top-4 seed line. For the Loyola University Chicago Ramblers, a win would be a major upset and a much-needed quality win to boost their tournament resume, but with their current NET ranking of 310, it's unlikely they'll make the tournament, even with a win, with only a 0.2% chance of making the field.