Loyola of Chicago Upsets Miami on Last Second Shot in NCAA Opener

Loyola of Chicago was the NCAA basketball champion in 1963, and the school made return trips to the tournament in 1964, 66, and 68 in the days when the tournament field was about a third the size of what it is today. Since then, the Ramblers made only one appearance, losing in the Sweet Sixteen to Georgetown in 1985, until this year.

The Missouri Valley Conference champions came into the tournament with a 28-5 record, riding a 10 game winning streak, and had won 17 of 18. They were seeded 11th in the South Regional, and faced sixth seeded 22-9 Miami (FL) in Dallas in the tournament opener for both teams.

Loyola got off to an early seven point lead, but Miami tied it at 20 apiece and it was 28-28 at intermission. Miami took a 41-34 lead on a basket by Ja’Quan Newton with 14:46 to go in the second half, and it looked like one of those tournament games where the better team eventually wears down the other and grinds out a victory. But the Ramblers weren’t done and closed to within two points before a three pointer by Lonnie Walker IV gave the Hurricanes a 50-45 lead with 9:05 left. Loyola stayed close, but a Dewan Huell basket with 2:47 left put Miami up by five again.

After a pair of free throws by Cameron Krutwig with 2:30 left brought the Ramblers to within three, Clayton Custer hit a three pointer with 1:17 left to tie it at 60. Newton hit a jumper with 44 seconds left for a 62-60 Hurricanes lead, and Marques Townes made a free throw for Loyola to make it 62-61 Miami with 26 seconds to go. With nine seconds left, Townes fouled Walker, who missed the free throw and Loyola’s Ben Richardson came up with a big rebound. The Ramblers took it down the floor and with time running out, Townes fed it to Donte Ingram who fired a long three pointer as time was running out that found the mark for a 64-62 victory.