Loyola prides itself on its ability to play defense. So having a one-point lead with six seconds left in overtime and St. Viator inbounding the ball under its own basket is, theoretically, an ideal late-game situation for the Ramblers.
That proved true Saturday.
Loyola wasn’t able to keep Lions star Connor Kochera from getting the ball, but the Ramblers managed to keep him from winning the game. Kochera’s shot went in, but he didn’t get it off before the buzzer, and Loyola picked up a 40-39 victory in the Steve Pappas Shootout at DePaul Prep.
‘‘We grind,’’ Ramblers coach Tom Livatino said. ‘‘That’s what we do. It’s not everybody’s taste, but it is our taste. Winning taste. And winning tastes pretty good.’’
Senior Matt Enghauser was the late-game hero for the No. 19 Ramblers (17-1). He grabbed a crucial rebound and was fouled with six seconds left in overtime. He sank both free throws to give Loyola the lead for good.
‘‘Matty is one of our leaders, and I have complete confidence in him,’’ Livatino said. ‘‘The free throws were big, but the rebound and the shot fake to get to the line was even more important.’’
Enghauser finished with 11 points.
Bennett Kwiecinski, a 6-8 Siena recruit, helped turn the game in the Ramblers’ favor.
St. Viator (11-6) led by five late in the third quarter before Kwiecinski heated up, scoring six points in an 80-second burst. He then scored all six of Loyola’s points in the fourth quarter to finish with 16 points, six rebounds and four blocks.
‘‘It started with the layup I had,’’ Kwiecinski said. ‘‘I felt just more into the game. They didn’t really change up anything on defense. I just started looking to score more, and we were moving better and faster on offense. That helped because they weren’t able to double as easily and I got a lot of good looks.’’
The Lions had two chances to win at the end of regulation, but they couldn’t get a shot to fall.
‘‘The bounces didn’t go our way,’’ St. Viator coach Quin Hayes said. ‘‘It came down to a box-out. It always comes down to one play at the end, and we didn’t get it done.’’
Kochera, a William & Mary recruit, scored 20 points but shot 5-for-14.
‘‘He’s a great player,’’ Livatino said. ‘‘Our guys put forth a really good effort on him individually and as a team. He’s the best player I’ve seen all year, period. He’s in complete control of his game. He’ll post you up, take you off the dribble, knock down a three. He’s unselfish. They run great stuff to get him the ball.’’
The Ramblers’ only loss this season was to Sante Fe Catholic of Lakeland, Florida. They have victories against St. Rita, Notre Dame and Leo and knocked off St. Ignatius in the Jesuit Cup rivalry game Friday at Gentile Arena.
The teams combined to make only three baskets in the second quarter and another three in the fourth, but Livatino was quick to defend his team’s style of play.
‘‘[Friday] was a grind,’’ Livatino said. ‘‘It was sloppy. I didn’t think today was sloppy. It was very good basketball with two good offensive and defensive teams. Not a lot of points, just really good play. We were improved today.’’
The final minute of overtime, Loyola vs. St. Viator https://t.co/V4vl6xExub
— Michael O'Brien (@michaelsobrien) January 11, 2020
