It’s not often that a college basketball program is defined by just a handful or so of games, but that’s the case with the Loyola Marymount Lions. For much of its history, cheap Loyola Marymount basketball tickets have been easy to find. But in 1990, the Lions made a run to the Elite Eight following an unspeakable tragedy. It was a program-defining moment for the Lions and one of the most bittersweet narratives in college basketball history. It’s also a reason for any fan to score last-minute Loyola Marymount basketball tickets any time they get a chance because the Lions are truly an important part of college basketball history.

From the Ashes

In 1985, Paul Westhead took over as the head coach of Loyola Marymount. He quickly turned the Lions into a powerhouse in the West Coast Conference, taking them to the NCAA Tournament in 1988 for just the second time since 1961. In 1990, the Lions were the highest-scoring team in the country and poised for another trip to the Big Dance when All-American Hank Gathers collapsed and died during the WCC Tournament. It was a crushing blow for Loyola Marymount, which was awarded a spot in the NCAA Tournament despite the WCC Tournament being canceled after Gathers’ death.

Without Gathers, the Lions managed to go on one of the most remarkable NCAA Tournament runs ever seen. They beat New Mexico State, Michigan, and Alabama before losing to eventual national champion UNLV in the Elite Eight. It was a monumental accomplishment for a program like Loyola and an uplifting run for the program in the wake of Gathers’ shocking passing. While a small program like Loyola has never managed to replicate the success they had with Gathers and fellow All-American Bo Kimble, just a handful of games have made Loyola Marymount an important and unforgettable chapter in college basketball history.