25. #11 Loyola-Chicago 64, #6 Miami (FL) 62 (2018 Round of 64)
In what was their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 33 years, the Loyola Ramblers didn’t look at all overwhelmed by the bright lights of March Madness. The Missouri Valley Conference champs sure looked like they belonged, and they proved it before the night was over.
They played the Miami Hurricanes close all game long, but trailed nearly the entire second half. Nevertheless, the Ramblers made enough shots to stay in the game and chipped away late in the game.
Down just one in the game’s closing seconds, the Ramblers were sent to the next round on a 3-pointer by Donte Ingram at the end of the game. There were still 0.3 seconds left on the clock, but essentially this was a buzzer-beating win for the Ramblers.
Missouri Valley player of the year Clayton Custer led Loyola with 14 points, including 4-for-6 from 3, though it was clearly Ingram (13 points, seven rebounds) who grabbed the spotlight. The Hurricanes shot 51 percent as a team, but didn’t make enough stops late in the game. They also committed 16 turnovers, including a key turnover in the last 30 seconds.
As far as upsets go, this one wasn’t as large as it seemed. This Miami team was solid in a tough ACC, but this wasn’t Loyola’s first big upset win. This Ramblers team had already won a huge game at the then-fifth ranked Florida Gators back in December and were on a roll.
As many know, the Ramblers would continue their run, knocking out the Tennessee Volunteers, the Nevada Wolf Pack and the Kansas State Wildcats on their way to the Final Four.
Ingram’s shot was a memorable moment from last year’s tournament and can perhaps be seen as the shot that inspired Loyola’s run. There would be key shots at the end of the Tennessee and Nevada games, but neither would’ve happened had Ingram’s 3-pointer rimmed out. However, the shot was good, and we’ll remember the Rambler’s run to the Final Four for years to come.