Box Score

DALLAS, Texas (March 15, 2018)

In Short…
Donte Ingram knocked down a three-pointer with only 0.3 seconds remaining in regulation to send 11^th-seeded Loyola University Chicago (29-5, 15-3 MVC) past sixth-seeded Miami by a final score of 64-62 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament this afternoon at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.  The win is Loyola's 11^th in as many games and its first in the NCAA Tournament since a 70-57 triumph over SMU back on March 16, 1985.  
 
How It Happened
Both teams traded scores in the early stages before a Clayton Custer three gave Loyola its first lead of the day, 7-6, just over three minutes in.  Ingram added a triple of his own to stretch the margin to four, 10-6, shortly after.  Loyola kept its foot on the gas, pushing the advantage to 14-7 on another Ingram score at the 14:02 mark.
 
Slowly but surely, Miami began to find its footing.  An old-fashioned three-point play by Ja'Quan Newton evened the score at 20 all with 6:37 to play in the first half.  Loyola would answer back, with consecutive scores by Cameron Krutwig and Marques Townes reestablishing a four-point lead, 24-20, for the Maroon & Gold.  A second-chance score by DJ Vasiljevic with time expiring sent the two teams into the locker room knotted up at 28-28.
 
Miami came out firing to begin the second stanza.  Dewan Huell finished off a lob pass to spark a 7-0 run as the Hurricanes surged in front, 39-32, with four minutes gone.  Loyola answered back, with back-to-back layups by Aundre Jackson trimming the deficit down to three, 43-40, with 11:57 remaining in the second half.
 
Ingram connected on a contested mid-range jumper to cut Miami's lead down to only two, 55-53, with seven minutes to play.  Huell finished inside at the 3:28 mark to extend the margin back out to five, 60-55, before a pair of makes at the line by Krutwig again made it a one-possession game, 60-57. 
 
Following a stop on the defensive end, Custer connected on a corner three to tie the game at 60 apiece and prompt a Miami timeout with only one minute to play.  Newton responded with a long two as the shot clock wound down to put Miami back in front, 62-60.  With the Hurricanes holding on to a perilous 62-61 edge after a missed free throw by Lonnie Walker IV, Townes found Ingram with time winding down and the senior did the rest, drilling a deep triple to seal a 64-62 victory and punch Loyola's ticket to the Second Round.
 
Looking At The Numbers
- Ingram finished with 13 points, a team-high seven rebounds, two assists and a block.
- Custer poured in a game-best 14 points as he paced a quartet of Ramblers in double figures that also included Ingram, Jackson (12 points) and Krutwig (11 points).
- Ben Richardson turned in a gritty effort, dishing out a game-high eight assists to go along with five rebounds, a block and a steal.
- Today's victory is Loyola's first over a current Atlantic Coast Conference member since a 70-58 victory at Notre Dame on January 24, 1994.
- Walker IV led Miami with 12 points.
 
Up Next
Loyola will now turn its attention to a matchup with third-seeded Tennessee on Saturday in Dallas with a berth in the Sweet Sixteen on the line.  A tip-off time and television location is still yet to be announced.