Loyola Routs Kansas State: Ramblers Get Ramblin' To Final Four

CHICAGO, IL — After three dramatic, late-game endings, Loyola turned in a dominating Elite Eight performance, leading Kansas State wire to wire on the way to a 78-62 win Saturday in the men's NCAA tournament. The victory means the No. 11 Ramblers are headed to the Final Four for the first time in more than 50 years.

Loyola came out strong against the Bruce Weber-coached Kansas State, punishing the No. 9 Wildcats with a relentless attack of layups and 3-pointers from Ben Richardson. Even though the Ramblers had trouble turning over the ball, their swarming defense in the paint contested shots, snagged rebounds and ultimately kept Kansas State from scoring.

The Final Four berth is the first for Loyola since 1963, the year the Ramblers won the NCAA title. That remains the only men's basketball championship for the school, and Loyola is the only Illinois university to win the tournament.

More Loyola Coverage on Patch:

• Loyola Beats Nevada: Ramblers Soar Into Elite Eight
• When Sister Jean Met Mariah: Watch The Sweet 16 Sweethearts Chat
• Loyola's Sister Jean Gets Push To Go On 'Ellen DeGeneres Show'
• Loyola's Bus Gets Lost Going To Arena? That's March Madness
• From a YMCA Kid to the Sweet Sixteen

Loyola will face No. 3 Michigan on Saturday, March 31, in San Antonio. The game will be on TBS.

Following its win Saturday, the players continued the NCAA tradition of cutting down the net. And naturally, Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt received her own piece.

Students at the Damen Student Center on Loyola's Rogers Park campus erupted as the final seconds ticked away. Even Atlanta's Philips Arena sounded like it was a home crowd, with roaring cheers coming from the seats as the game ended.

Fans at watering holes around Chicago also celebrated as the Ramblers advanced to the Final Four. Here's how some of the patrons at O'Donovan's in North Center reacted (video courtesy of Denise DuVernay):

Even Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel had congratulatory words for Loyola.

"The road to the Final Four has been paved with hard work, selflessness and a dogged display of Chicago’s winning spirit," he said in a statement following the game. "Our city is united behind Sister Jean, Coach [Porter] Moser and this talented team who have proven themselves and defied the odds at every turn."

Before the game, Emanuel and Mayor Carl Gerlach of Overland Park, Kansas, made a friendly wager on Saturday’s game. If Loyola won, Gerlach would send ribs from Q39. Now, it looks like Emanuel will have to strike up another bet with the mayor of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Online, it appeared that everyone was jumping on Loyola's Cinderella carriage as it heads to the Final Four.

Loyola's Donte Ingram after the No. 11 Ramblers' win over the No. 7 Kansas State Wildcats on Saturday, March 24. (Photo by Ronald Martinez | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images)

Ben Richardson heads down the court after a basket in the first half against No. 9 Kansas State on Saturday, March 24, at Philips Arena in Atlanta. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images)

Donte Ingram cuts down the net after Saturday's victory. (Photo by Ronald Martinez | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images)

Ben Richardson celebrates the No. 11 Ramblers' win Saturday, March 24, over the No. 9 Wildcats in the Elite Eight of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. (Photo by Ronald Martinez | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images)

A Loyola fan holds up a sign at Atlanta's Philips Arena before the game. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images)