Final Four: Michigan To Meet Villanova In NCAA Finals

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — Michigan ended Loyola's improbable underdog run through the NCAA men's basketball tournament Saturday in San Antonio. The No. 3 Wolverines fought back to beat the No. 11 Ramblers, 69-57, and advance to the tournament's title game.

The game was dominated by suffocating defense and shots that wouldn't fall on on both sides. But Michigan forward Moritz Wagner kept the Wolverines in the game with an outstanding 24-point performance. He also added 15 rebounds, and Michigan squad was able to withstand Loyola's scrappy play in the first half — especially by freshman center Cameron Krutwig in the paint — and pull away late in the second half.

Coming into the game, Loyola was the lovable underdog. These Ramblers were not the first 11-seed to make the Final Four. And, just like Louisiana State University, George Mason and Virginia Commonwealth University, they bowed out in the semi-final game.

Michigan will take its 14-game winning streak to the NCAA Finals on Monday, when the Wolverines will play Villanova, the winner of the second Final Four game on Saturday. Villanova blew out Kansas, 95-79. Michigan will meet Villanova at 9:20 p.m. Monday, April 2, in San Antonio.

WATCH: First-half highlights of the NCAA Final Four game between No. 11 Loyola and No. 3 Michigan:

Photo 1: Loyola-Chicago's Marques Townes (5) battles for the ball against Michigan's Charles Matthews (1) and Charles Matthews (1) during the first half in the semifinals of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 31, 2018, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Photo 2: Michigan guard Charles Matthews dunks the ball ahead of Loyola-Chicago forward Aundre Jackson, left, during the first half in the semifinals of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 31, 2018, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Photo 3: Loyola-Chicago guard Clayton Custer (13) shoots over Michigan guard Eli Brooks (55) during the first half in the semifinals of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 31, 2018, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Photo 4: Loyola-Chicago guard Clayton Custer (13) shoots over Michigan guard Eli Brooks (55) during the first half in the semifinals of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 31, 2018, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Photo 5: Loyola-Chicago's Marques Townes (5) goes up for a basket against Michigan defense during the first half in the semifinals of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 31, 2018, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)