The game set the tone for an exciting day of contests as the tournament got underway.
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Loyola Chicago gave him a chance to continue to live out his dream and he hasn’t looked back.
Even before Donte Ingram’s shot left his hands, carrying the hopes and prayers of Loyola-Chicago fans and the Ramblers’ NCAA Tournament destiny with it, Sister Jean Dolores-Schmidt knew that Ingram would be the one to take the shot. Sister Jean has always been a big sports fan and, as detailed in a recent piece by ESPNW, has fond memories of the Loyola Ramblers beating the Cincinnati Bearcats to win the 1963 National Championship.
Sister Jean is most often decked out in Loyola gear and wearing her trademark maroon Nike tennis shoes with gold laces that have “Sister” stitched onto the heel of her left shoe and “Jean” stitched on the heel of her right shoe.
For Miami, this one will sting. Donte Ingram got the ball at the edge of the center-court logo and put up a heave, sending the crowd into hysterics. Officials called a jump ball, but changed the call to a foul. Even in her absence, she continued to send regular e-mails to coach Porter Moser after games, applauding the team’s performance (or providing encouragement after losses).
Penn led by 10 in the first half and was still within single digits after a bucket by AJ Brodeur made it 62-54 with 6:24 remaining. Walker missed the first shot, and Ben Richardson grabbed the defensive rebound.
His teammate, Lucas Williamson, made up for it. It was the Ramblers ball.
But shots by Marques Townes and Krutwig missed the mark. Miami had to inbound. Loyola didn’t just get a lucky shot. It rolled for seemingly forever. The building erupted. Loyola’s bench stormed the court. Miami loses in the first round for the second straight season.
Clayton Custer hit a tying three in the final two minutes and led Loyola with 14 points on four-of-six shooting from long range.
Lagerald Vick contributed 14 points, while Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and Malik Newman each scored 10 points for the Jayhawks (28-7), who trailed Pennsylvania by 10 points in the first half before using a 19-2 spurt late in the period to take control.
The Canes could lose both Walker and Brown to the NBA Draft this summer, and Newton will graduate.
Freshman leading scorer Lonnie Walker IV turned it over with UM leading by one point with 23 seconds left. Mikal Bridges had 13 points, Eric Paschall scored 11 and Omari Spellman had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Until the very end, that is. Ingram was three of eight from three and finished with 13.
BOISE, Idaho – Zach Norvell Jr. hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 20.8 seconds left to help Gonzaga escape a major scare in the West Region on Thursday with a 68-64 victory over UNC Greensboro.
Neither team was sharp to start. And the Hurricanes, in the most heartbreaking of ways, discovered why on Thursday afternoon.
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After a relatively competitive first half, Tennessee unleashed its press in full force to cruise to another women’s NCAA Tournament home win. Miami (FL), meanwhile, had a better free throw rate (0.163 vs. 0.073).
