No. 25 Saint Louis defeats Loyola Chicago 79-65, clinching A-10 top seed and title share

Billikens secure No. 1 seed and double-bye ahead of Atlantic 10 Championship in Pittsburgh

Saint Louis closed its home schedule with a 79-65 win over Loyola Chicago on Wednesday night, a result that locked up the Billikens’ No. 1 seed for the Atlantic 10 men’s basketball tournament and guaranteed a double-bye into the quarterfinal round. The victory also ensured Saint Louis will finish the regular season with at least a share of the Atlantic 10 regular-season title.

The game, played at Chaifetz Arena, capped an unbeaten home season for Saint Louis. The Billikens entered the night ranked No. 25 nationally and improved their overall and conference records to 27-3 and 15-2, respectively. Loyola Chicago fell to 7-22 on the season.

Key moments and statistical drivers

Saint Louis built control through a combination of scoring balance and on-ball pressure, generating enough separation to withstand Loyola Chicago stretches of pace and perimeter attempts. Dion Brown finished with 15 points, while Robbie Avila added 12. Kellen Thames contributed nine points on 4-for-5 shooting. Paul Otieno added a game-high five assists, a career best.

Loyola Chicago, which has struggled to find consistency in Atlantic 10 play this season, faced a difficult matchup against a Saint Louis team that has paired efficient offense with one of the nation’s best scoring margins during the regular season. The Ramblers’ deficit grew as the Billikens repeatedly converted half-court possessions and limited Loyola’s ability to string together stops.

• Final score: Saint Louis 79, Loyola Chicago 65
• Saint Louis clinched: No. 1 seed in the A-10 tournament, plus a share of the regular-season title
• Notable scorers: Dion Brown (15), Robbie Avila (12), Kellen Thames (9)
• Playmaking note: Paul Otieno recorded five assists

What the result changes for March

The Atlantic 10 Championship is scheduled for March 11–15 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Under the tournament format, the top four seeds receive a double-bye, moving directly to the quarterfinals, a structural advantage that reduces the number of games needed to win the conference’s automatic NCAA tournament bid.

For Saint Louis, the outcome clarifies its path: the Billikens will enter as the No. 1 seed and will not play until the quarterfinals. The regular season is not yet complete, however, and Saint Louis is set to finish its schedule on Saturday, March 7, at George Mason.

With the top seed secured, Saint Louis now shifts from seeding pressure to late-season execution and health management ahead of the A-10 bracket.

Loyola Chicago, meanwhile, heads toward the postseason needing a rapid reset. The Ramblers’ record places them on the outside of the conference’s upper tier, and their tournament route will require additional games and immediate improvement against higher-seeded opponents.