Box Score (PDF)

DALLAS, Texas (March 17, 2018)

In Short…
Clayton Custer connected on a jumper with only 3.6 seconds remaining in regulation as 11^th-seeded Loyola University Chicago (30-5) defeated third-seeded Tennessee (26-9) by a final score of 63-62 in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament this evening at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.  The victory gives Loyola a single-season school record 30 wins and secures the program's first berth in the Sweet Sixteen since the 1984-85 season.
 
How It Happened
Admiral Schofield knocked down a pair of early threes to stake Tennessee to an 8-3 lead with just under two a half minutes gone.  Lucas Williamson drained a triple of his own to trim the deficit to two, 8-6, but the Volunteers responded with a 7-0 spurt that was punctuated by a Schofield dunk to open up a 15-6 lead and prompt a Rambler timeout at the 15:38 mark.
 
Loyola amped up its pressure on the defensive end as the half wore on, holding Tennessee without a made field goal for over six minutes as it climbed back to within one on a layup by Aundre Jackson with 11:41 remaining.  With the deficit sitting at 22-18, the Ramblers erupted for a 7-0 run of their own, highlighted by a Clayton Custer trey, to surge in front, 25-22.  A pair of makes by Jackson at the charity stripe pushed the lead to six, 29-23, before Jordan Bone knocked down a long two to cut the Loyola advantage to 29-25 at halftime.
 
Consecutive threes by Custer and Donte Ingram helped the Maroon & Gold get off to a fast start coming out of the locker room, as the lead stretched to 38-29 at the 16:57 mark.  Tennessee battled back to within one, 40-39, on a triple by LaMonte Turner but Williamson provided the answer on Loyola's ensuing possession, draining a three of his own to reestablish a four-point lead, 43-39, with 12:25 to play. 
 
A transition trey by Bruno Skokna again gave Loyola a nine-point edge, 50-41, as the Volunteers burned a timeout at the 10:00 mark.  Following a key defensive stop, Ben Richardson found Jackson inside for an uncontested layup that pushed the Loyola lead into double digits for the first time, 58-48.  Tennessee would roar back with a 14-3 run that saw it take a 62-61 lead on an old-fashioned three-point play by Grant Williams with only 20 seconds remaining.  Custer provided the night's deciding shot seconds later, draining a fade away jumper to vault Loyola back on top, 63-62.  A desperation three by Bone went array as Loyola celebrated a second-straight heart-stopping victory.
 
Looking At The Numbers
- Custer closed the night with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting.  He also collected two rebounds and dished out three assists.
- Jackson poured in a game-high 16 points on an efficient 5-of-7 mark from the field.  The senior finished a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line.
- This evening's victory is Loyola's second over a Southeastern Conference (SEC) foe this season following a 65-59 win over then No. 5 Florida back on December 6.
- Schofield scored 14 points to lead Tennessee but was held to just three points in the second half.
 
Up Next
Loyola advances on to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen at Phillips Arena in Atlanta, Ga. on Thursday evening, where it will take on the winner of the game between second-seeded Cincinnati and 10^th-seeded Nevada.