Loyola wins MVC title

Cameron Krutwig and Braden Norris scored 20 points each to lead No. 20 Loyola to a 75-65 victory against Drake in the Missouri Valley Conference championship Sunday in St. Louis for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

The Ramblers (24-4) will be making their seventh NCAA appearance and first since the 2018 team reached the Final Four as a No. 11 seed before falling to Michigan.

“We’ll enjoy this win for one or two days, then it’s right back to business,’’ Krutwig said. ‘‘Once we find out who we’re playing, we’ll get right to it. You’ve got to fall in love with the grind — especially in March.”

Loyola coach Porter Moser said his team is ready for the challenge.

“I welcome similarities,” Moser said. “I’ve been shying away from comparing them. These guys — they’re their own team. But I love the sustained success.”

Keith Clemons added 13 points for Loyola, which has won six in a row and 17 of its last 18. The Ramblers shot 59.1% (26-for-44) from the field, including 58.8% (10-for-17) from three.

Tremell Murphy and D.J. Wilkins scored 20 points each for Drake (25-4), a bubble team that started the season 18-0.

Northwestern 79, Nebraska 78

Ryan Young’s putback with 2.7 seconds left lifted the Wildcats (9-14, 6-13), who will be the 12 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and will face Minnesota in the first round Wednesday.

Chase Audige scored 14 points, Pete Nance added 13, Miller Kopp 12, Boo Buie and Robbie Beran 11 each and Ty Berry 10 for the host Wildcats, who had six players in double figures in a conference game for the first time since the 2002-03 season.

Michigan State 70, Michigan 64

Rocket Watts scored 21 points and Aaron Henry 18 to lead the host Spartans (15-11, 9-11 Big Ten) past the No. 2 Wolverines (19-3, 14-3). Guard Eli Brooks hurt his left ankle in the first half and did not return for Michigan, the top seed in the Big Ten Tournament.