DALLAS, TX – The 6-seed Miami Hurricanes (22-10, 11-7 ACC) fell to 11-seeded Loyola-Chicago (29-5, 15-3 MVC) in heartbreak fashion on Thursday, 64-62, in the First Round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas. Senior guard Donte Ingram drained a game-winning three-point shot with 0.3 seconds remaining, ending the Hurricanes season.
In a game where Miami had the lead for much of the second half in their third straight trip to the dance, they were unable to pull away in the final minutes and lost in the first round for the second straight year. Loyola-Chicago clinched its first victory in the NCAA Tournament since 1985, a span of 33 years.
Ingram’s long shot from well above the key came after Lonnie Walker IV missed the first of a 1-and-1 free throw with a chance to give the Hurricanes a three-point lead with nine seconds to play. The Ramblers only found themselves down a point after the missed freebie as they pushed the ball down the court and found Ingram for a weakly contested shot by long-armed Sam Waardenburg. As former Golden State head coach Mark Jackson always says, ‘hand down, man down.’
Unforced turnovers were a major factor in the Canes’ demise. Traveling violations, dribbling off their own feet, passes that found fans in the seats and offensive fouls all added up (10 unforced turnovers to be exact), especially in this tightly contested game. Free throw shooting had been a problem for the Hurricanes all season, none more important than the missed free throw from Walker IV.
The offense was stagnant again with multiple scoring droughts that kept the Ramblers in the game. Miami had just 11 assists (only three from its guards) on 25 made baskets, and relied heavily on 1-on-1 dribble drives from its guards to get into the lane, only taking nine three-point attempts in the game. Loyola-Chicago stuck to its defensive gameplan, which led them to being the No. 5 ranked team in the nation in points allowed per game.
Miami had four players score in double-figures. Dewan Huell was the team’s most consistent player, posting 11 points (5/7 FG), 7 rebounds and three blocked shots. Walker IV led the way with 12 points, while Ja’Quan Newton had 11 and Chris Lykes had 10 points.
The Ramblers matched the school record with 29 wins in a season from their 1963 National Championship team in their first NCAA trip since losing to Patrick Ewing and Georgetown in the Sweet 16 in 1985. Loyola-Chicago advances to face third-seeded Tennessee on Saturday.
Miami’s season is done.
In a game where Miami had the lead for much of the second half in their third straight trip to the dance, they were unable to pull away in the final minutes and lost in the first round for the second straight year. Loyola-Chicago clinched its first victory in the NCAA Tournament since 1985, a span of 33 years.
Ingram’s long shot from well above the key came after Lonnie Walker IV missed the first of a 1-and-1 free throw with a chance to give the Hurricanes a three-point lead with nine seconds to play. The Ramblers only found themselves down a point after the missed freebie as they pushed the ball down the court and found Ingram for a weakly contested shot by long-armed Sam Waardenburg. As former Golden State head coach Mark Jackson always says, ‘hand down, man down.’
Unforced turnovers were a major factor in the Canes’ demise. Traveling violations, dribbling off their own feet, passes that found fans in the seats and offensive fouls all added up (10 unforced turnovers to be exact), especially in this tightly contested game. Free throw shooting had been a problem for the Hurricanes all season, none more important than the missed free throw from Walker IV.
The offense was stagnant again with multiple scoring droughts that kept the Ramblers in the game. Miami had just 11 assists (only three from its guards) on 25 made baskets, and relied heavily on 1-on-1 dribble drives from its guards to get into the lane, only taking nine three-point attempts in the game. Loyola-Chicago stuck to its defensive gameplan, which led them to being the No. 5 ranked team in the nation in points allowed per game.
Miami had four players score in double-figures. Dewan Huell was the team’s most consistent player, posting 11 points (5/7 FG), 7 rebounds and three blocked shots. Walker IV led the way with 12 points, while Ja’Quan Newton had 11 and Chris Lykes had 10 points.
The Ramblers matched the school record with 29 wins in a season from their 1963 National Championship team in their first NCAA trip since losing to Patrick Ewing and Georgetown in the Sweet 16 in 1985. Loyola-Chicago advances to face third-seeded Tennessee on Saturday.
Miami’s season is done.
