PITTSBURGH, Pa. (March 18, 2022)
 
In Short…
Loyola University Chicago struggled through an uncharacteristic day on the offensive end, dropping a 54-41 decision to seventh-seeded Ohio State (20-11, 12-8 Big Ten) in an NCAA Tournament First Round game inside PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa.  This afternoon's result sees the Ramblers close the 2021-22 season at 25-8 overall (13-5 MVC).
 
How It Happened
Chris Knight put the Ramblers on the board first just under two minutes in, converting inside to make it 2-0.  Ryan Schwieger connected on a triple from the top of the key at the 16:25 mark, stretching Loyola's lead to 5-2.  Ohio State responded, rattling off five straight points, the last two of which came on a Eugene Brown III floater that gave the Buckeyes their first lead of the afternoon, 7-5.
 
In a first half where nothing came easy on the offensive end, an Aher Uguak layup snapped a lengthy scoring drought for the Maroon & Gold and tied the game at 9-9 with 8:15 remaining.  Schwieger added a fast break bucket seconds later, putting Loyola back on top, 11-9.  Ohio State answered with an 8-0 surge, capped off by two E.J. Liddell free throws, to open up a 17-11 advantage. 
 
Braden Norris drained a corner three to snap the run, but Malakai Branham countered with a dunk off a Rambler miscue to stake the Buckeyes to a 19-14 lead and prompt a Loyola timeout with 3:49 to go.  Norris found the mark again from beyond the arc to bring Loyola within five at halftime, 23-18.
 
Ohio State looked to find its footing coming out the locker room, connecting on its first three attempts from the field, with a Kyle Young jumper in the paint pushing the margin to 29-18, forcing a Loyola timeout with less than three minutes gone.  Norris again looked to provide a spark, hitting his third three of the day with 16:31 remaining to trim the deficit back down to single digits, 29-21.
 
Points continued to come at a premium as the second half wore on, with Lucas Williamson's first bucket of the day, a three, bringing the Ramblers within 37-26 at the 12:46 mark.  Schwieger hit again from distance, cutting the gap to eight, 40-32, with eight minutes and change to play.
 
Jamari Wheeler stretched Ohio State's lead back into double digits, 42-32, with eight minutes to play as part of a 6-0 spurt that gave the Buckeyes a 46-32 advantage.  Loyola got no closer than nine the rest of the way as it saw its 2021-22 campaign come to an end.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Loyola struggled to find a rhythm all day on the offensive end, shooting a season-low 27 percent (15-for-56). 
- Norris knocked down four threes as part of a team-best 14-point effort (5-13 FGs, 4-11 FGs).
- Williamson, who wraps up his time with the Maroon & Gold as the winningest player in program history, dished out a team-high six and registered three steals in addition to four points (1-10 FGs, 1-5 3FGs, 1-6 FTs) and five rebounds.
- Liddell led all scorers with 16 points (4-9 FGs, 8-10 FTs) and grabbed 10 rebounds.