Krutwig leads Loyola Chicago to shocking upset of No. 1 Illinois
No. 8 Loyola Chicago knocked out No. 1 Illinois 71-58 behind Cameron Krutwig's 19 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists in a major upset Sunday afternoon.
The Ramblers advance to the Sweet 16 for the second time in three tournaments, replicating their run in 2018 when they ended up in the Final Four while making a viral sensation out of then 99-year-old team chaplain Sister Jean.
Loyola Chicago put its foot on the gas early, jumping out to a 9-2 advantage and never relinquishing the lead. The win pushes the Ramblers to 15-5 all time in the NCAA Tournament, tying Duke for the best winning percentage in March Madness history, according to ESPN.
Awaiting the Ramblers and their stifling defense in the Sweet 16 will be the winner of Sunday night's matchup between No. 5 Oklahoma State and No. 12 Oregon State.
Kofi Cockburn led the way for the Fighting Illini with 21 points and nine rebounds in the defeat. Illinois' 58 points were its lowest total of the season, and a far cry from the team's average of 81.3 per game, which ranked near the top in the nation.
Illinois heads home as the first No. 1 seed to be eliminated from this year's tournament. The loss was only the team's second in its last 17 games.