Loyola University Chicago

No. 25 Saint Louis beats Loyola 79-65 to earn top seed in A-10 tourney

Posted March 04, 2026 9:22 pm

By JEFF LATZKE

Saint Louis' Amari McCottry (4) heads to the basket past Loyola Chicago's Deywilk Tavarez, left, and Miles Rubin, right during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ST. LOUIS — Amari McCottry scored 18 points, Dion Brown added 15 and No. 25 Saint Louis clinched the top seed in the Atlantic 10 Tournament by beating Loyola 79-65 on Wednesday night.

The Billikens (27-3, 15-2) finished unbeaten at Chaifetz Arena for the first time in the building's 18-year history and tied the school record with their 22nd consecutive home win, 19 coming this season.

Xavier Amos led the Ramblers (7-23, 3-14) with a season-high 25 points and Kayde Dotson scored 19. Amos made all seven of his shots in an 18-point first half, including four 3-pointers in a three-minute stretch to close an early 12-point deficit.

Last-place Loyola came in shooting just 31% on 3s but kept it close by outscoring the nation's top 3-point shooting team by nine from behind the arc.

Saint Louis made up for it by shooting 60% overall and finally put away the game with a run of eight straight points capped by Paul Otieno's layup that made it 70-54 with 4:49 to play.

Robbie Avila had 12 points and six rebounds in his final home game, and the sold-out crowd chanted “Rob-bie! Rob-bie!” when coach Josh Schertz pulled him in the final minute.

After trailing by double digits in their previous three games, including their only two conference losses, the Billikens threatened to run away with this one early. McCottry and Brady Dunlap hit back-to-back 3s to finish a string of 12 straight Saint Louis points and make it 18-6.

After Amos' flurry, Avila and Trey Green connected on 3s in a 10-0 burst to put the Billikens ahead to stay. Saint Louis led 40-32 at the break.

Up next

Loyola hosts George Washington on Saturday.

Saint Louis visits George Mason on Saturday.

Saint Louis' Robbie Avila (21) dribbles as Loyola Chicago's Kayde Dotson defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Saint Louis' Dion Brown (13) celebrates during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Loyola Chicago Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Loyola Chicago's Kayde Dotson, center, heads to the basket as Saint Louis' Robbie Avila, left, and Kellen Thames, right, defend during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Saint Louis' Quentin Jones (1) knocks the ball away from Loyola Chicago's Kayde Dotson (4) as Saint Louis' Robbie Avila, left, watches during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)