ST. LOUIS — Step aside, Northwestern. Take a seat, DePaul.

For now, Loyola-Chicago is the king of Windy City basketball.

The Ramblers earned their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 33 years with a 65-49 win over Ilinois State in the Missouri Valley Conference championship game on Sunday.

Donte Ingram scored 18 points and Cameron Krutwig added 11 points and nine rebounds for Loyola-Chicago (28-5), which reached the Sweet 16 in its last NCAA tourney appearance, in 1985.

“We’ve got much respect for all of the other programs in Illinois and Chicago,” Ingram said. “But we’re here now and we’re going to enjoy this one and think about what we have moving forward.”

Mailk Yarbrough and Phil Fayne led Illinois State (18-15) with 12 points each. Fayne added 12 rebounds.

Loyola-Chicago, which has won 10 in a row, had been an afterthought in Chicago-area basketball circles the past few years.

“It feels awesome,” Krutwig said. “It means everything to me right now. Obviously, we’re going to celebrate.”

Ingram, who earned tournament MVP honors, hit five of 11 shots including 4 of 9 from 3-point range. His four-point play with 6:21 left in the first half capped a 7-2 run that put the Ramblers up 27-18.

“It really changed the outcome of the game,” Ingram said. “That was one of those momentum swings. When I get my shot I’m confident. I’m going to take it.”