NCAA South Regional: Loyola holds off Nevada

Nevada forward Cody Martin passes off under pressure from Loyola defender Ben Richardson during the first half of a regional semifinal NCAA college basketball game on Thursday in Atlanta.

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

Nevada forward Cody Martin passes off under pressure from Loyola defender Ben Richardson during the first half of a regional semifinal NCAA college basketball game on Thursday in Atlanta.

Loyola Chicago, a No. 11 seed, is headed to the Elite Eight.

The Ramblers held on for a 69-68 victory over Nevada in an NCAA South Regional semifinal game Thursday night at Philips Arena.

Loyola trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half and led by as many as 12 in the second half, but a late Nevada rally ultimately sent the game down to the wire. Loyola took the lead for good with just under three minutes to play  and went ahead by four points with seven  seconds remaining on a clutch 3-pointer by Marques Townes.

On Saturday in Philips Arena, Loyola will play the winner of Thursday night’s late semifinal between Kentucky and Kansas State for a berth in the Final Four.

Please see MyAJC.com for full coverage of Thursday night’s games.