March Madness 2022: Ohio State puts clamps on Loyola Chicago in 54-41 NCAA win

E.J. Liddell scored 16 factors, Huge Ten Freshman of the 12 months Malaki Branham added 14 and seventh-seeded Ohio State shut down Tenth-seeded Loyola Chicago from begin to end, successful 54-41 within the first spherical of the NCAA Event on Friday.

The Buckeyes (20-11) superior to play both Villanova or Delaware on Sunday within the South Area whereas stopping one other March run by the Ramblers (25-8), who shot 27% (15 of 56) from the ground.

Braden Norris led Loyola with 14 factors however star Lucas Williamson endured maybe his worst recreation of the season. The winningest participant in program historical past completed with 4 factors on 1-of-10 capturing and dedicated three turnovers as Loyola fell within the first spherical after reaching the Candy 16 final season and the Closing 4 in 2018.

Sister Jean, Loyola’s 102-year-old chaplain, led the Ramblers in a pregame prayer and took within the faculty’s third NCAA look in 5 years from the mezzanine however may solely watch as Loyola — listed as a slight favourite by FanDuel Sportsbook, a nod to this system’s rise — fumbled away a chance to additional cement its standing as a mid-major energy.

Ohio State got here in having misplaced 4 of its ultimate 5 video games, together with a baffling setback to lowly Penn State within the Huge Ten match final week. The return of ahead Kyle Younger — who hadn’t performed since March 8 attributable to a concussion — and Liddell’s steadiness helped the Buckeyes keep away from a second straight early exit.

A 12 months in the past, Ohio State got here in as a two seed solely to get surprised by Fifteenth-seeded Oral Roberts within the opening spherical. Not this time.

Loyola reached its third NCAA Event in 5 seasons primarily based largely on its protection. The issue for the Ramblers, nonetheless, got here on the opposite finish of the ground.

Whereas Williamson and firm annoyed Liddell — holding him with no subject purpose within the first half — Loyola may muster little offensive stream because the Buckeyes swallowed up the lane in a recreation that made up for in depth what it lacked in aesthetics.

Each Loyola dive to the rim was contested and each unfastened ball — and there have been lots in a gap half by which each groups mixed for as many turnovers as made baskets (15) — appeared to finish with Ohio State heading the opposite approach.

At one level, first-year Loyola coach Drew Valentine grew so animated his gum flew out of his mouth as he implored his crew for extra effort.

The Ramblers’ effort wasn’t the problem. Execution, nonetheless, was one other matter as Loyola ended its stint within the Missouri Valley Convention — the Jesuit faculty situated alongside Lake Michigan is heading to the Atlantic 10 subsequent fall — with a thud.