PITTSBURGH — The No. 10 Loyola Chicago Ramblers (24-7, 12-5 MVC), in their final year in the Missouri Valley Conference, fell to the No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes 54-41 Friday at PPG Paints Arena in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
The Ramblers entered the Tournament shooting 48.3% from the field. Friday, they shot 26.8%. 7-for-30 in the first half and 8-for-26 in the second half doomed Loyola from the start.
Five minutes in, the score was tied 5-5. It was going to be a low-scoring contest. Loyola looked like it would be to their advantage. But they were just playing into Ohio State’s hands. The first five minutes of the game were incredibly physical. EJ Liddell used the phrase “set the rules.” Head coach Chris Holtmann called it a “rock fight” and said that’s been their mantra all season.
Much to the Ramblers’ dismay, Ohio State set the rules of engagement and eventually turned on the shooting. After Loyola took an 11-9 lead in the first half, the...
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