The Loyola-Chicago Ramblers continue to live their Cinderella Story. Though, at this point in the tournament, it is not a Cinderella story. They deserve the respect of a Final Four NCAA Tournament team. They are in fact only the fourth No. 11 seed to make it this far in the tournament.

For the first time since 1963, the Ramblers will have a chance to play for their shot at the National Championship. They last tried in 1985 and last succeeded in 55 years ago, in 1963. They beat No. 9 Kansas State University 78-62 this time to advance to the next round, so let them celebrate until they meet their next match in the Michigan Wolverines who are a favorite in this tournament.

Loyola-Chicago took Kansas State out of their comfort zone

Kansas State has widely been considered a top defensive team in the tournament, especially thus far. After tonight, the Ramblers have made other basketball minds how KSU could have flopped and give Loyola their biggest tournament victory yet.

The Ramblers have won their other tournament games by a combined four points. Each of the prior three games had some good fortune involved with last minutes shots and drives. Loyola is playing like it is just another game. Tonight, they had a 16-point victory over the Wildcats, and it looked that way from the onset.

The Kansas State Wildcats found themselves down 19-7 quick in the first half. The Ramblers came swinging making 8-of-10 early shots.

Ben Richardson led the team with 23 points while tagging on six rebounds and four assists. Loyola-Chicago easily had a 36-24 halftime lead. The team is 24-0 when leading at the half.

Just like Porter Moser's team had done in the early first, the Ramblers came out with no slug.

They made 9-of-10 starting the second half.

The Wildcats try to fight back

Kansas State, who ended UMBC's fairytale run, tried and willfully kept up a fight.

With Loyola-Chicago holding a 23-point lead with less than 10 minutes to go in the game, the Wildcats found themselves on a 10-0 run late. It was not enough of a momentum shifter for Kansas State to find victory.

The Wildcats were without their star player. According to Charlotte Caroll of Sports Illustrated, announcers had stated at the start of the second half that top player Dean Wade was being kept out of the game by head coach Bruce Weber due to the concern of Wade's injury.

Wade suffered a foot injury two weeks prior a Big 12 tournament win against TCU. He had some playing time against his team's Sweet 16 upset win against the Kentucky Wildcats, his first action in the March Madness tournament. Wade told The Wichita Eagle that he did not regret playing on the foot versus Kentucky.

In any case, the Wildcats are out, and the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers are moving on to the Final Four.
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