Picked last, Oregon State now Elite after beating Loyola
Oregon State won 65-58. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)INDIANAPOLIS – Picked to finish dead last in the Pac-12, Oregon State instead might be the last one standing. Then the Ramblers, who failed to take advantage of their defense, proceeded to miss 11 consecutive shots as Oregon State flip-flopped between man-to-man and zone defenses. Oregon State built on Warith Alatishe's buzzer-beating bucket to end the first half by getting some shots to go in the second. Oregon State has never played Syracuse, but it beat Houston in the 1966 West Region semifinal and again in the 2009 CBI Tournament.
Loyola Chicago gets MVC crown over Drake, 7th NCAA berth
20 Loyola Chicago to a 75-65 win over Drake in the Missouri Valley Conference championship game Sunday for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Keith Clemons added 13 points for Loyola, which has won six in a row and 17 of its past 18. Loyola Chicago, which hit 10 of 24 shots (63%) in the opening half, won its three tournament games by a total of 50 points. BIG PICTURELoyola Chicago: Heading to the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time and first since the 2018 team reached the Final Four. UP NEXTChicago Loyola: Will be making its second NCAA Tournament appearance in the past 31 years.