ELSAH, Ill. (Duhawks.com) – On the heels of a 77-63 victory on Monday night, the Loras College men's basketball team was defeated by Principia College on Thursday night. Shots didn't seem to fall in either half for Loras (1-1), resulting in the Duhawks shooting 36.5 percent from the floor. Freshmen Ryan DiCanio and Demond George combined to score 36 points in the effort.

Loras got off to an explosive start, rattling off the first 15 points of the game thanks to a barrage of three-pointers. This run was similar to the Duhawks victory over the Panthers (2-0) last season in which they took an early 20-2 lead.

Following the 15-0 run it was all Principia however, as the Panthers came back to bring the score within one at halftime. Despite shooting just 28.6 percent in the first half, Principia's ability to shoot from long range kept them in it. Five first half 3-pointers gave the Panthers a late first half lead before senior Mirko Grcic added a basket in the closing seconds.

The second half was a dogfight, with neither team able to gain a significant advantage over the other. Teams traded baskets in the early stages of the period before Loras mounted a five point lead.

DiCanio and George were the lone bright spots for the Duhawks in the second half, with the pair of freshman showcasing their shooting range. The duo combined to shoot 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, the only three-point shots the Duhawks converted in the second period. George proved tough to contain due to his quick pace of play, allowing him to earn quick baskets.

Defensively, Loras allowed the Panthers to shoot 58.3 percent from the floor in the second, including 41.7 percent from deep. This gave Principia all the breathing room they'd need to finish the job. A key difference maker for Principia was their ability to run the fast break offense following Duhawk turnovers. Although neither team held a distinct advantage in that aspect of the game, Principia turned 14 Loras turnovers into 18 points.

KEY MOMENTS
P1 | Loras opened the game on a 15-0 run, giving them a strong cushion to begin the game
P1 | Five Principia three-point baskets helped the Panthers finish the half on a 28-14 run, negating the Duhawks sizable lead
P2 | The Duhawks were unable to convert chances from the free throw line in the second half, making just 6-of-13
P2 | Principia converted on six straight free throw attempts to close the game
P2 | Adaku Anumu hit key shots for Principia late, his three-point basket with 1:45 to play gave the Panthers a four-point advantage

FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME
Ryan DiCanio | The freshman from Bartlett, Illinois provided the Duhawks with an offensive spark in each half. DiCanio led Loras with a game-high 19 points on 6-of-14 shooting and finished second on the team with seven rebounds.

UP NEXT
Loras travels south to St. Louis, Missouri for a game against Webster University on Saturday in a rematch of last season's overtime thriller. Webster (0-1) enters having lost their season opener to Iowa Conference opponent Central by a final score of 88-58.