NCAA South Regional: Loyola routs Kansas State for Final Four berth

Loyola guard Lucas Williamson (left) gets five from Marques Townes after sinking a basket and drawing a foul against Kansas State during the first half in a regional final NCAA college basketball game on Saturday.

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

Loyola guard Lucas Williamson (left) gets five from Marques Townes after sinking a basket and drawing a foul against Kansas State during the first half in a regional final NCAA college basketball game on Saturday.

Loyola Chicago is on its way to the Final Four.

And there was no doubt about it Saturday night at Philips Arena.

Loyola, a No. 11 seed, routed Kansas State, a No. 9 seed, 78-62 in the NCAA South Regional final, earning the Ramblers their first Final Four berth since 1963.

Loyola, which had won its past three games in the tournament by a combined four points, led by 12 at halftime Saturday and lengthened the lead in the second half, going up by 23 points with 9:40 to play and maintaining a 17-point cushion with 2 ½ minutes to play.

The Ramblers shot 57.4 percent from the field while limiting Kansas State to 34.8 percent.

The win was Loyola’s 14th in a row, the longest current winning streak in the nation. The Ramblers last lost on the final day of January. Now they move on to San Antonio, two wins from a national championship.

Please see MyAJC.com for full coverage of Saturday night’s game.