CHICAGO (March 14, 2021) – After a 33-year drought between NCAA Tournament appearances that ended in 2018, the Loyola University Chicago men's basketball team (24-4, 16-2 MVC) has earned its second berth to the big dance in the last four seasons and will face ninth-seeded Georgia Tech in a NCAA Tournament First Round game on Friday, March 19. Time and location is still to be determined. The Ramblers are the No. 8 seed in the Midwest Region. The winner of the Loyola – Georgia Tech game will face the winner of the No. 1 seed Illinois versus No. 16 seed Drexel contest.
 
Loyola is making its seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament, just its second since 1985 and first since a captivating run to the Final Four in 2018. Success in the NCAA Tournament has been plentiful for the Ramblers, who are 13-5 (.722) in their six previous appearances, including a NCAA championship in 1963, a Sweet 16 appearance in 1985, and the aforementioned trip to the Final Four just three years ago. 
 
This will be the second meeting between Loyola and Georgia Tech and the first since December 30, 1967, when the Ramblers rolled to a 96-71 victory at Chicago Stadium.
 
The 2020-21 campaign, with all of its challenges, has been memorable for Loyola, which currently sits at No. 18 in both the Associated Press and Coaches Top 25 polls. In steamrolling the competition, the Ramblers rolled to a program record 16 conference wins, eclipsing the previous mark of 15 set by the 2017-18 squad. Loyola has won 20 or more games in four straight seasons and is one of only 12 programs in the country to have won 97 or more games over the last four years.
 
Last weekend, Loyola collected the Missouri Valley Conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament by winning three games at Arch Madness by 10 or more points, including last Sunday's 75-65 victory over No. 2 seed Drake, in the championship game. 
 
The Ramblers are one of the hottest teams in the country and head into Friday's game versus Georgia Tech having won 17 of their last 18 games, including each of the last six. At 24-4 overall, Loyola, which has the No. 1 scoring defense in the country (55.5 ppg) has its best record through 28 games since 1962-63 (26-2) when it finished with a 29-2 ledger and won the national championship.

Ticket requests in the Loyola seat block are due by Monday, March 15 with fans being notified if they've received tickets by Tuesday at noon. For more information, visit www.loyolaramblers.com/marchmadness.