ABOUT CARROLL ...
Carroll comes into Saturday's match up after falling to Monmouth College. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak and marked the first time the Pioneers had lost since mid-November. Carroll is led by Kyle Keranen and Bryan Nagy. Kernanen leads the team in scoring (15.8 ppg) as their best option from deep, shooting 45.5 percent from distance. Nagy orchestrates the Pioneer offense while stretching the floor. Nagy does it all for Carroll, leading the team in assists per game (4.0) and rebounds per game (7.0), while adding 10.7 points.

Saturday's match up will be the first time the two teams have squared off.

VANWAMBEKE MAKING AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ...
Through his first eight games doning the purple and gold, sophomore transfer Justin VanWambeke has made his mark. While early injuries allowed VanWambeke to jump into the starting lineup earlier than anticpated, the sophomore guard has flourished in his first year with the Duhawks.

VanWambeke's calm and cool demeanor on the court paired with his ability to make a difference on either end of the floor has frustrated opponents and paced the Duhawks in the opening third of the season.

On the defensive end, VanWambeke plays smart and disciplined aginst opponents top guards. He leads to the team with 13 steals, averaging 1.6 per game. His defensive pressure has fueled the Duhawks in transition, allowing them to push the tempo on opponents. Often times this season, VanWambeke has cashed in his defensive efforts with points on the other end.

Playing in nearly 32 minutes a game, VanWambeke is second on the team in points per game (14.6) and tops the team in free throw percentage (84.4 percent). A sharp shooter, VanWambeke shoots 46 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from beyond the arc. Although he's a consistent offensive option for the Duhawks, VanWambeke's stellar court vision has allowed him to set up his new teammates. The Machesney Park, Illinois native leads the team in assists (16) and assists per game (2.0).

Making an instant impact, VanWambeke will be a key player to watch for the remainder of the Duhawks 2014-15 season.

DUHAWKS SEARCHING FOR THEIR FIRST WIN IN DECEMBER ...
Arguably their toughest month schedule of the season, December has posed problems for the Duhawks. Kicking off the month on the road against Elmhurst before taking on rival UW-Platteville, the Duhawks seemed to have turned the tides at Illinois Wesleyan on Tuesday. Unfortunately despite season-high offensive performances by the team, the No. 9 Titans shot their way to the win to hand the Duhawks their third setback of the month. Loras looks to take advantage of Carroll's low scoring and repeat their shooting success from their trip to Bloomington, Illinois.
 
FLORIDA SUNSHINE ON THE HORIZON ...
Following the Duhawks game against Carroll, the team will take a short break for the holidays before traveling to Daytona, Florida to take part in the Land of Magic Classic. Loras will take on Lebanon Valley on December 28 before taking to Oswego State on December 29.

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.