Loyola Chicago's Cinderella run ends with tears, hugs for Sister Jean

Henry Bushnell
·Senior soccer reporter

Loyola Chicago’s NCAA tournament run came to a disappointing end on Saturday night in San Antonio. The Ramblers led their Final Four game against Michigan by 10 points in the second half, but collapsed late in a 69-57 loss.

As time ran out on their magical season, tears started to flow from players’ eyes. Guards Clayton Custer and Ben Richardson – teammates as third-graders and high schoolers – walked off the court with their arms around each other.

Richardson was sobbing as he neared the locker room. Loyola coach Porter Moser, who had hugged both on the court, threw his arm around the senior and said, “keep your head high.”

Before they headed back to the locker room, though, all Loyola players and staff members paused and lined up to give hugs to Loyola’s now-famous 98-year-old team chaplain, Sister Jean.

The players were still dejected as they walked back to the locker room. Marques Townes seemed to take the loss particularly hard.

All of them, though, will surely remember the last few weeks for the rest of their lives.

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Loyola senior Donte Ingram hugs Sister Jean. (Screenshot: @RyanBakerMedia on Twitter)
Loyola senior Donte Ingram hugs Sister Jean. (Screenshot: @RyanBakerMedia on Twitter)