DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) – Following a 2014 performance in which Loras defeated Edgewood by a final of 89-84, the Duhawks (1-0) had an easier time with the Eagles (0-1) this time around. Thanks in part to senior Mirko Grcic's 29 point, 14 rebound performance, the Duhawks were victorious on Opening Night, 77-63.

Loras got off to a hot start which proved to be a key difference maker throughout Monday's contest. A 15-1 run through the first five minutes of the game gave the Duhawks exactly the separation they'd need in order to win. Six Duhawks contributed to the run, showcasing the depth of Loras' bench despite the youth that Head Coach Greg Gorton has with eight freshman on the roster.

Freshman Ryan DiCanio and junior Justin VanWambeke briefly stole the show with 11:07 to play in the half, combining to sink four consecutive 3-pointers, giving Loras a commanding 29-10 lead. In DiCanio's first collegiate action, he registered 11 points, all in the first half.

Much like last season's matchup, Loras succeeded most when feeding the ball into the paint. In his best attempt to match last season's 34-point, 26-rebound performance, Grcic registered his first double-double of the year. Grcic was a force to be reckoned with down near the base line, helping the Duhawks collect 36 points in the paint.

Grcic put his final stamp on the game at the 1:21 mark of the second half, slamming home a dunk off an assist from DiCanio.

Right behind Grcic was VanWambeke who did a little bit of everything for the Duhawks, finding ways to contribute in all facets of the game. The junior finished with 13 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while helping hold Edgewood's Emilio Lopez to a 2-of-13 performance.

Defensively Loras forced 17 Eagle turnovers, converting them into 12 points going the other way. Edgewood couldn't match the Duhawks ability to push the pace on the fastbreak, resulting in Loras holding a 14-2 advantage in fastbreak points.

The Duhawks defense on the perimeter was most impressive, holding Edgewood to 7-of-30 shooting from deep. Last season Loras struggled at times defending the long ball, allowing opponents to shoot 37.8 percent from beyond the arc.

KEY MOMENTS
P1 | Loras began the game on a 15-1 run over the first five minutes of play, plummeting Edgewood into a hole they couldn't overcome
P1 | Ryan DiCanio's 11 first half points paced the Duhawks as he hit three consecutive shots from beyond the arc to help extend Loras' lead
P2 | A big game from Adam Freitag gave the Eagles hope in the second half as he helped cut the Duhawks lead to single-digits with 7:10 to play
P2 | The Eagles found themselves in foul trouble late in the game and were forced to sit Dylan Heemstra down the stretch with four fouls

FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME
Mirko Grcic | Grcic dismantled the Eagles for the second consecutive season, scoring 29 points on 11-of-19 shooting. The senior was the team's best shooter from the charity stripe, converting on 7-of-9 chances. His 14 rebounds are the most he's hauled in during non-conference play since his 17-rebound performance against Webster last season.

UP NEXT
Loras begins a three-game road stretch on Thursday as they travel to Principia College in Elsah, Illinois. Last season, the Duhawks disposed of the Panthers by a final score of 66-51. Justin VanWambeke led all retuning Duhawks with 13 points and three assists in last season's matchup.