NCAA Basketball: Obi Toppin, Loyola-Chicago top mid-major performers

NCAA Basketball: Obi Toppin, Loyola-Chicago week’s top mid-major performers

By Logan Butts | Feb 18, 2020

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 24: The Loyola Ramblers celebrate after defeating the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament South Regional at Philips Arena on March 24, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Loyola defeated Kansas State 78-62 to advance to the Final Four. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

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SAN ANTONIO, TX – MARCH 31: Loyola Ramblers fans cheer (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Best Performance, Team – Loyola Chicago Ramblers

Nearly two years after their magical run to the Final Four, the Loyola Chicago Ramblers once again find themselves back in the limelight after a big win on Saturday. It took overtime to do it, but Loyola defeated the Missouri Valley Conference’s top dogs Northern Iowa 82-73, setting up the Ramblers for a chance at the conference crown.

Junior Keith Clemons, playing in his first season on Division I, chose an opportune time to have his first 20-point outburst. He led the team with 25 points on 8-12 shooting (5-8 from downtown) and a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line. Final Four holdovers Cameron Krutwig (21 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and one steal) and Lucas Williamson (8-4-4-4-2) also had standout games.

Despite the typical late-game heroics from A.J. Green, the Panthers were unable to hold on. UNI still looks to be in a good position to earn an at-large bid (more on that in the next section) if they are unable to win Arch Madness, and Loyola looks like the team that could cause that scenario. Is a two-bid MWC in play? I think so.

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