ABOUT UW-PLATTEVILLE ...
The Pioneers enter the Athletic & Wellness Center hot off the heels of a 52-47 conference win over UW-Oshkosh on Wednesday night. Boston Johnson paces the Pioneers with 12.7 point per game while Jim Stocki joins him in double digits with 11.2 points per game. Defensively, UW-Platteville has struggled to keep pace with oponents on the boards with no Pioneers averaging more than 4.9 rebounds a game. While the Pionners shot nearly 50 percent from the field, the Duhawks will have to make the most of their opportunites on the boards.

ABOUT ILLINOIS WESLEYAN ...
Illinois Wesleyan carries a six-game win streak into week four and will take on the Washington University - St. Louis Bears before hosting the Duhawks. Balanced scoring has been key to the Titans early season success as four players average double figures in scoring. Illinois Wesleyan has a solid threat from distance in Bryce Dolan. Dolan averages three three-pointers a game while shooting 47.7 percent from beyond the arc.

In last year's meeting junior Mirko Grcic's 19 points fueled the Duhawks to an 80-75 win.

FAMILIAR FACES RETURN TO LORAS' LINEUP ...
While injuries caused early changes to the starting lineup, the Duhawks returned two key players last week. Senior Luke Barry made his season debut in the loss to Elmhurst but brings depth to Loras' guards. The team's top shooter from the charity stripe, Barry's ability to knock down pressure free throws could lift the Duhawks in late game situations. In the post, junior Justin Schneider returned after sustatining an upper body injury a few weeks ago. Schneider provides Loras with much needed size in the post with a smooth shot on the offensive end.

RENEWING A RIVALRY ...
When Loras and UW-Platteville square off on December 13, it will be the first meeting between the two programs since November 28, 2010, and the first to take place in the Athletic & Wellness Center in the rivalry's history. In that contest, the Duhawks were the victors, coming out with the 63-61 victory.

DUHAWKS LOOK TO REPEAT LAST YEAR'S MAGIC ...
Loras' match up with No. 8 Illinois Wesleyan will mark the Duhawks first game against a ranked opponent this season. Upsetting ranked teams became an area of expertise for the the Duhawks a season ago when they held a 4-1 record against the Top 25, including an 80-75 thriller over the No. 2 Titans.

BROTHERLY RIVALRY ...
On December 16, Loras will make the return trip to Bloomington, Illinois for a non-conference tilt with Illinois Wesleyan. Last year, the Titans came to Dubuque as the No. 2 team in the country, only to be up-ended by the Duhawks. In addition to being a strong non-conference game for the Duhawks, there will be more at stake for two brothers. Buddy Sodemann, the assistant coach for Loras, will coach against his younger brother Pat, a senior at Illinois Wesleyan. Pat has started each of the Titan's games this year, averaging 18.5 minutes per game and is shooting 31 percent from distance.

VANWAMBEKE FLOURISHING IN NEW ROLE ...
After coming off the bench in the season-opener at Edgewood College, sophomore Justin VanWambeke has stepped into a starter role and has been spectacular. The junior college transfer is averaging 17.3 points per game and is almost automatic from the free-throw line, converting 24-of-28.

RECORDS ARE MEANT TO BE BROKEN ...
In Loras' win over Rockford on November 18, the Duhawks earned 62 trips to the free throw line, converting 40 of them. With the high number of attempts and makes from the line, the Duhawks broke records that have been in place since the 1983-84 season. In that season Loras made 38 of 59 free throws in their win over Cabrini.  

GRCIC TIES SCHOOL RECORD ...
In the 2014-15 season opener, junior Mirko Grcic hauled in 26 rebounds, tying a Loras school record dating back to the 1954-55 season. That year, Al Carew collected 26 rebounds in a game against St. Norbert College.