Chances are you know them as the cuddly underdog, and they are. The Loyola-Chicago Ramblers are the feel-good story of the NCAA basketball tournament, right down to Sister Jean, their 98-year-old team chaplain and super fan.

But in Bowling Green, at least, fans of a wiser generation might remember them as something else.

America’s Cinderella? Nah, try the big, bad Wicked Stepmother.

For those Falcons faithful, the Ramblers’ run to the Sweet 16 has recast a light on the Chi-Town school’s long-ago powerhouse past — and, indirectly, the greatest win in Bowling Green history.

Rewind to the early 1960s, when Harold Anderson’s BG teams were the best show around. Led by future hall of famer Nate Thurmond and the scoring wizardry of Howard “Butch” Komives, the Falcons went 40-12 in 1962 and ‘63, both seasons winning the Mid-American Conference on their way into the then-25-team NCAA tournament.

The highlight came one magical night in February, 1963, when top-ranked and unbeaten Loyola rolled into Memorial Hall — the old brick barn later dedicated in Anderson’s honor — before an overflow crowd of 5,734. From wire to wire, the Falcons brought down the “House that Roars,” with Komives pouring in 32 points, Nate the Great adding 24, and the hosts romping to a 92-75 win.

“Never been at a game before or since that was that loud,” said the coach’s daughter, Ellen Anderson, who still lives in BG.

Bowling Green went on to beat Notre Dame in the first round of the NCAA tournament before losing to Illinois in the Sweet 16. The Falcons made one more tourney appearance in 1968, then, well, you know the rest of the story. Throw in Toledo, and it has now been a combined 88 seasons since one of our area schools went dancing.

Loyola, meanwhile, went on to win the ‘63 national title, beating two-time defending national champion Cincinnati in an overtime thriller in which — get this — All-American guard Jerry Harkness and his four starting sidekicks played the whole game, without substitution. (Now, we feel even dumber than usual for criticizing Toledo’s short bench.) The Ramblers made three more tourney trips through 1968, then they, too, tumbled off the national map.

But what’s a hard-luck half century between friends?

In just their second tourney trip since 1968, the underdog Ramblers have gotten their day, inspiring little guys everywhere.

Your turn, Bowling Green.

Contact David Briggs at dbriggs@theblade.com, 419-724-6084, or on Twitter @DBriggsBlade.

First Published March 21, 2018, 2:00 p.m.