Loyola Chicago vs. Kansas State final score: Ramblers’ Cinderella run continues to Final Four

Cinderella has danced her way into the Final Four. No. 11 Loyola Chicago’s dream tournament will continue next weekend in San Antonio after the Ramblers knocked off No. 9 Kansas State, 78-62, in Saturday night’s Elite Eight round in Atlanta. That’s right: Sister Jean and the whole gang will get their shot at a title for the first time since 1963.

The only way to feel strange about this particular win is that it didn’t happen in last-second, high dramatic fashion, which must certainly give Loyola coach Porter Moser a degree of comfort. His offense played efficiently all night, and kept Kansas State at arm’s length for the great majority of the outing.

The Ramblers grabbed the lead off the opening tip and never really looked back, though credit the Wildcats for maintaining contact over much of the game. Even so, Loyola’s scheme and execution stifled Kansas State, which couldn’t defend the Ramblers’ inside out, pass heavy attack.

Also, they were making four-point plays like this.

Loyola’s Ben Richardson led all scorers with 23 points on seven-of-10 shooting.

A more prescient Wildcats outfit might have harbored reservations about coming back out on the floor following halftime, since Loyola came into this game undefeated on the year when leading at recess.

Make that 24 now.

Things really blew wide open in the second half, after a series of K-State miscues allowed Loyola to build up a 54-35 advantage, a decidedly lopsided affair considering the Wildcats were outscoring the Ramblers 17-0 in points off of turnovers alone. With the Ramblers’ collective foot on Kansas State’s neck, the offense only thrived. Loyola ended the game with 17 total assists to Kansas State’s nine.

Still, a furious late rally from Kansas State appeared to frazzle Loyola enough into allowing a five-minute, 14-3 run late in the second half, but the Ramblers buttoned themselves up defensively and sealed the deal to advance.

Loyola now awaits the winner of Michigan vs. Florida State.