Loyola-Chicago knocks off Miami on last-second three in NCAA Tournament
Loyola's Donte Ingram shoots the game-winning three-pointer against Miami in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at American Airlines Center on Thursday in Dallas. Credit: Getty Images / Tom Pennington
DALLAS — Donte Ingram picked the perfect spot for his game-winning shot.
Ingram hit a three-pointer from the March Madness logo with just 0.3 seconds left, lifting 11th-seeded Loyola-Chicago to a thrilling 64-62 first-round win over sixth-seeded Miami Thursday in the NCAA Tournament.
“Well, it’s pretty simple to know why we call it March Madness,” said Hurricanes coach Jim Larranaga, left holding his head in disbelief after Ingram’s shot.
In 2006, Larranaga took 11th-seeded George Mason to the Final Four. This time, it was Loyola’s turn to celebrate after making its first tournament appearance in 33 years.
The long shot from well beyond the key came with just three tenths of a second left, and was set up by a pass from Marques Townes. It happened after Lonnie Walker IV missed a free throw with a chance to give Miami a three-point lead.
“I thank Marques for making that pass,” said Ingram, who scored 13 points and was 3-for-8 on three-pointers. “Any one of us could have hit that shot, but I was just fortunate enough to be in the position.”
The buzzer sounded as Ingram’s shot went in, and the team celebrated wildly in front of the raucous fans wearing maroon-and-gold scarfs in the sections across from their bench.
But officials put 0.3 seconds back on the clock, forcing Loyola to gather on the bench and postponing the celebration until after a desperation full-court pass bounced away harmlessly.
“After they made that shot, I mean, it’s definitely a dagger to the heart,” said Walker, who led Miami (22-10) with 12 points.
The Ramblers (29-5) matched the school record for wins from their 1963 national championship team in their first NCAA trip since losing to Georgetown in the Sweet 16 in 1985. They advanced to face third-seeded Tennessee on Saturday.
Loyola, with an 11-game winning streak, was boosted by a pregame prayer from its team chaplain, 98-year-old Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt. She’s held that post for more than two decades and, sitting courtside in her wheelchair, got hugs from the team when it was over. What did she think after Ingram’s shot?
“I just gave a big sigh of relief and said, ‘Thank God.’ ”
