ATLANTA _ Even Sister Jean's bracket originally had Loyola bowing out in the Sweet 16.
The Ramblers continue to prove every doubter wrong. Loyola's 69-68 victory Thursday night over Nevada propelled them to their first Elite Eight appearance since the team won the national championship 55 years ago.
Those history makers from 1963 had a front-row seat to the current team's chronicling of the one best stories in sports as Jerry Harkness and three of his teammates cheered the upset.
This Loyola team will go down in its history forever for its big shots. Marques Townes (18 points) hit a dagger 3-pointer with 6.2 seconds left.
In the previous two NCAA Tournament games it was Donte Ingram at the buzzer against Miami. And then it was Clayton Custer with a huge jump shot with 3.6 seconds left to topple Tennessee.
Townes stuck both fists in the air under the basket and received hugs from teammates.
Custer and Aundre Jackson added 15 points apiece for Loyola (31-5).
Nevada (29-8) was paced by Caleb Martin's game-high 21 points.
