Des Watson guides Loyola Chicago past No. 21 Dayton

Des Watson scored a game-high 24 points, helping lead Loyola Chicago to a 77-72 win over visiting No. 21 Dayton on Friday.

Braden Norris added 19 points and 11 assists for the Ramblers (21-8, 13-3 Atlantic 10), who won for the eighth time in nine games. Philip Alston collected 13 points for Loyola.

Daron Holmes II led Dayton (22-6, 12-4) with 20 points, and Enoch Cheeks followed with 16 points. Nate Santos scored 13 for the Flyers, who have lost two of three games and three in a row on the road.

After Dayton held a three-point halftime lead, Loyola began the second half on a 5-0 run, taking its first lead since the opening minutes of the game.

Dayton retook the lead with a 6-0 run capped with Cheeks' dunk at the 16:29 mark for a 41-37 edge.

With 13:42 remaining, Santos' four-point play gave Dayton a 52-47 lead, but Loyola's subsequent 12-2 scoring run ignited the home crowd and forced a Dayton timeout at the 7:50 mark.

Cheeks' layup cut the Ramblers' lead to 59-56.

From there, Norris and Watson each hit jumpers, giving Loyola a 63-56 advantage -- its largest of the game. Dayton tied the game with a 7-0 run, stamped with Holmes' layup with 4:36 left.

Alston knocked down a corner 3-pointer at the 3:05 mark before Koby Brea's 3-pointer trimmed Dayton's deficit to one with 2:32 left.

Loyola responded with a 3-pointer from Norris on the ensuing possession, as giving the Ramblers a 72-68 lead with 2:10 remaining.

After a pair of Holmes free throws cut the lead in half with 45 seconds left, Norris once again knocked down a trey, supplying the Ramblers with a 75-70 advantage with 17.2 seconds left.

Norris made two free throws with six seconds remaining to cement the victory.

Dayton led 35-32 at the half thanks to Holmes' 10 points and seven rebounds. Watson led the Ramblers with 16 points in the first half.