Michigan ends Loyola-Chicago’s magical run to advance to National Championship game

Michigan came alive in the second half, overcoming a 10-point deficit and with a win, finding themselves back in the national title game for the first time since 2013. The Wolverines outscored the Ramblers 47-28 in the second half. It was a wonderful run for 11-seed Loyola-Chicago but Michigan proved to be too much down the stretch. Michigan will face the winner of Kansas-Villanova.

That’s all she wrote for Loyola-Chicago. Michigan was led by Mo Wagner who finished 24 points and 15 rebounds, pulling his team along with him to advance to the National Championship game.

SISTER JEAN OUT :(

Michigan has figured out Loyola’s defense and has pulled away as time runs out on Loyola’s magical tourney run. The Ramblers are shooting 1-of-9 from the three-point line and have 10 turnovers in the 2nd half alone. Turnovers were a huge problem for Michigan in the first 20 minutes, but have limited those in the second half.

Wagner leads the way with 24 points and 15 rebounds for the Wolverines.

Michigan has it’s first lead since 15:13 in the first half! They’re on a 9-0 run.

Michigan is not done yet! Thanks to a couple of baskets from Jordan Poole, this is now just a three-point game. Loyola-Chicago’s Marques Townes just asked to leave the game with left leg cramps. He’s currently on the sideline working to get back into the game.

Loyola continues to get good looks at the basket, shooting 48 percent from the field now.

Loyola’s Cameron Krutwig came out and hit a huge and-one basket to start the second half, giving the Ramblers a 32-22 lead. Mo Wagner immediately threw down a huge dunk after to respond. Since the break, the game has picked up the pace with both teams looking much more relaxed.

It was a slow start for Loyola but they’re in full control heading into halftime. They’ve forced eight Michigan turnovers in the first half which is virtually unheard of since the Wolverines average nine for an entire game. That Rambler defense also now has Michigan shooting 9-of-31 from the field. It’s been a slow grind kind of game, but that’s what these teams want.

Michigan’s Mo Wagner already has a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds as his size has been too much for Loyola-Chicago. He just needs some help from the rest of his squad if they want to turn this one around.

Loyola just rallied off a 9-0 run to take their first lead at 17-15. It’s been fairly tough for Michigan to get anything going thanks to Ramblers defense. With Michigan unable to run any of their sets, they’re still hanging around thanks to Wagner cleaning up on the offensive glass several times. He has 11 of their 19 points.

The Ramblers do not quit! Marques Townes hit this incredible shot as the shot clock expired, and just like that Loyola’s up to shooting 30.8 percent. It’s still low but its better than the previous 18 and more in line with Michigan who is only shooting 33.3 percent.

The Ramblers have not scored a field goal in over five minutes and were forced to call a timeout before they let Michigan start to run away with this one. Loyola is shooting 18.6 percent from the field right now, which won’t be enough if they want to pull of another upset.

Michigan scored first thanks to a three-pointer from Chris Matthews to start the game. The Wolverines then followed up with another three-pointer from Mo Wagner, but Loyola-Chicago is hanging around through the first media timeout.

Loyola-Chicago and Michigan will play in one of the most unexpected Final Four matchups ever: No. 3 seed Michigan may not be an entirely shocking semifinalist, but No. 11 seed Loyola-Chicago wasn’t on too many brackets out there. Not even Sister Jean saw this coming.

Her Ramblers survived a South Region that was called unfair by No. 1 overall seed Virginia fans before the first game tipped. Aside from having top team in all of the nation, that portion of the bracket was home to Cincinnati (No. 2), Tennessee (No. 3), a preseason favorite in Arizona (No. 4) and the always scary Kentucky Wildcats (No. 5). That’s a whole lot of talent vying one spot in the Final Four.

Of course, though, as we all assumed, a 98-year-old nun would take center stage and will her mid-major to victory. Loyola-Chicago’s Sister Jean has become the centerpiece of a new-found fanbase in America.

The Final Four’s most surprising entrant has its toughest test on Saturday: Michigan is a well-balanced, defensive-minded unit with athletes up and down the roster. The Wolverines might lack the shooting the Ramblers have, but have the talent to defend against it. Moritz Wagner is an inside-out threat who’s more versatile than most of the bigs Loyola-Chicago has faced. Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, Charles Matthews and Jordan Poole will all cause problems on the perimeter too.

Each team was slightly lucky to avoid the top team in its portion of the bracket, but there are no free passes at this point. Can the No. 11 seed continue its Cinderella run? Or will head coach John Beilein make his way back again with Michigan?

Date: Saturday, March 31

TV: TBS

Time: 6:09 p.m. ET

Live Stream: March Madness Live