Neither Loyola or Nevada were supposed to reach the Sweet 16. But in their Sweet 16 game against each other, the Ramblers and Wolfpack put on a show. The finish was quite frenetic.
With Loyola nursing a one-point lead in the final seconds, Marques Townes buried a three to go up four points.
MARQUES TOWNES WITH THE BIG TIME 👌#MarchMadness #Sweet16 pic.twitter.com/9LMUnm6Z2v
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 23, 2018
But Nevada’s Caleb Martin responded with a three of his own, cutting the lead back to one point. At that point, though, the Wolfpack were done in by the fact that they didn’t commit too many fouls in the second half. They had two fouls to give, meaning they had to foul twice before possibly getting the ball back. Ultimately, time ran out on Nevada, sending Loyola — who’s won three tournament games by a combined four points — to the Elite Eight.
Twitter reacted to the bonkers finish.
Per @ESPNStatsInfo, Loyola joins Saint Joseph’s in 1981 as the only teams to make the Elite Eight by a combined margin of victory of four points over three games.
Non-Jesuits, don’t even try this.
— John Gasaway (@JohnGasaway) March 23, 2018
Marques Townes: pic.twitter.com/10nFA79kZo
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) March 23, 2018
— ✶ Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD2_) March 23, 2018
Sister Jean and Loyola-Chicago kick Nevada out of the tournament! pic.twitter.com/EqlEsDLJiz
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 23, 2018
Cinderella marches on as Loyola Chicago moves on and will face the winner of Kentucky and Kansas State. Great effort by Nevada coming back but Loyola’s dream keeps rolling. Thanks to sister Jean’s prayers
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) March 23, 2018
Let Loyola beat Kentucky and I'll name my first daughter Sister Jean
— . (@ItsPaoloni) March 23, 2018
We’re going to hold you too that.
Of course, for every winner, there’s also a loser. And not everyone was pleased with this result.
https://twitter.com/kayleejc_/status/976990469883244544
https://twitter.com/FLATBETCAPPER/status/976992165099376640
In the end, a great game was summed up with one tweet.
Tonight, Nevada was second to nun
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) March 23, 2018
Indeed, it was. While instant classic is often an overused phrase, it qualifies here.