Loyola's Donte Ingram (0) brings the ball up court during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Northern Iowa in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, Friday, March 2, 2018, in St. Louis. Ingram led his team with 13 points as Loyola beat Northern Iowa 54-50. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
The Associated Press
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Donte Ingram had 13 points and eight rebounds, Marques Townes had 13 points and the game-clinching free throw with 2.3 seconds remaining and top-seeded Loyola Chicago held off ninth-seeded Northern Iowa 54-50 on Friday in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament quarterfinals.
Ingram's layup with 57.7 seconds to go had the Ramblers (26-5), who have their most wins since the 1948-49 team went 26-9, up 51-43. A putback by Klint Carlson at 48.1 seconds and a 3-pointer from the right wing by Wyatt Lohaus after Loyola missed the front end of a one-and-one, made it 51-48 with 30 seconds left.
Loyola again missed a free throw but UNI missed a 3-pointer before freshman Lucas Williamson got his only points of the game with two free throws at 10.8 seconds. Tywhon Pickford scored on a putback for Northern Iowa before Townes iced it.
Loyola, on a season-best eight-game winning streak, faces fifth-seeded Bradley in the semifinals on Saturday.
Bennett Koch scored 20 points for Northern Iowa (16-16).
Loyola's Ben Richardson celebrates a 3-point shot during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Northern Iowa in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, Friday, March 2, 2018, in St. Louis. Loyola beat Northern Iowa 54-50. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
The Associated Press
Loyola's Aundre Jackson (24) elevates to pass the ball over Northern Iowa's Klint Carlson (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, Friday, March 2, 2018, in St. Louis. Loyola beat Northern Iowa 54-50. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
The Associated Press
Northern Iowa head coach Ben Jacobson reacts to a call during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Loyola in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, Friday, March 2, 2018, in St. Louis. Loyola beat Northern Iowa 54-50. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
The Associated Press
Northern Iowa's Wyatt Lohaus (33) loses the ball as he collides with Loyola's Ben Richardson during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, Friday, March 2, 2018, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
The Associated Press
Loyola's Clayton Custer (13) elevates for a shot in front of Northern Iowa's Bennett Koch (25) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, Friday, March 2, 2018, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
The Associated Press
Loyola's Lucas Williamson (1) drives right past Northern Iowa's Hunter Rhodes during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, Friday, March 2, 2018, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
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Northern Iowa's Isaiah Brown (24) blocks a shot by Loyola's Marques Townes (5) in the first half of an NCAA college Missouri Valley Conference tournament quarterfinal basketball game, Friday, March 2, 2018 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
The Associated Press
Northern Iowa's Klint Carlson (2) tries to dribble around the defense of Loyola's Aundre Jackson, left, and Lucas Williamson in the first half of an NCAA college Missouri Valley Conference tournament quarterfinal basketball game, Friday, March 2, 2018 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
The Associated Press