Loyola Chicago Drains Buzzer Beater Shot In First Game Since Sister Jean Died

In Loyola Chicago’s first crippled of nan 2025-26 season, which besides happened to beryllium their first crippled since their beloved chaplain Sister Jean died, thing miraculous happened.

As clip was expiring successful nan Monday nighttime crippled vs. Cleveland State, nan 2 teams were tied astatine 88 each pinch 2.6 seconds to go. An inbounded walk went to Deywilk Tavarez, who made a three-pointer astatine nan buzzer. The Ramblers won nan title astatine home, sparking excitement successful nan programme that has been formed pinch a acheronian unreality since Sister Jean died connected Oct. 10 astatine nan property of 106.

Loyola won nan crippled successful Sister Jean’s honor, that’s for sure. And, nan squad could consciousness her beingness successful nan arena.

"It's decidedly not nan same, but we cognize she was pinch america tonight," coach Drew Valentine said aft nan game, via ESPN. "Not seeing Sister Jean location erstwhile stepping disconnected nan court, it's decidedly thing that's going to return clip to get utilized to because I'd grown truthful accustomed to having those 20-, 30-second conversations pinch her.

"Sister Jean," he continued. "She had to beryllium praying for those shots to spell successful astatine nan end."

The squad is sporting patches connected their jersey of Sister Jean each season, truthful it was for illustration she was pinch nan squad connected Monday night. It was very fitting that their play would unfastened up successful this unthinkable way.

Before her death, Sister Jean worked pinch nan assemblage for 60 years, and astir precocious worked arsenic nan chaplain to nan men’s hoops team. Her stardom roseate successful 2018 erstwhile nan Ramblers were nan Cinderella communicative of nan NCAA tournament, reaching nan Final Four pinch their No. 1 instrumentality successful nan stands of each crippled wearing her maroon and gold.

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