DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) – The Loras College Men's Basketball team took a moment prior to their game Saturday night against Coe to honor their five seniors. Nathaniel Smith, Aaron Schueller, Bobby Harmening, Luke Barry and Regan Takes all started in what could be their final game in the Athletic & Wellness Center. Unfortunately, their efforts were not enough as Coe defeated Loras 71-66. Smith tied a game-high 20 points on the night contributing five assists and three rebounds.

The first non-three-point basket for either team came at the 15:49 mark when Harmening stole the ball and assisted junior Mirko Grcic on the fastbreak lay-in to put the score at 11-9. From there until the end of the half, the teams would trade baskets and the lead, with no team gaining an advantage greater than six.

At the break, the score fell in favor of the Kohawks, 37-32, thanks to 6-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Duhawks struggled, shooting 38 percent from the floor.

In the second half, the Kohawks increased their lead to as many as 12 in the first seven minutes. The Duhawks climbed right back into it behind the play of senior Luke Barry and sophomore Justin VamWambeke. Barry and Van Wambeke combined for a trio of 3-pointers, two assists, a steal and a rebound over the span of two and a half minutes, cutting the deficit from nine to one.

After two more makes from deep by two seniors, Loras tied up the game at 66 with just two minutes to go. After a 3-point play by Coe, head coach Greg Gorton called a timeout. Corralling his team to seize the lead for the first time since the eight minute mark in the first half, Gorton settled his team.

Down one, the Duhawks found Aaron Schueller in the corner for a three but the shot did not fall. Coe grabbed the rebound and raced up the floor, looking to extend their lead. Unable to get a basket in transition, Coe was forced to use a timeout.

Out of the pause in play, Coe worked the ball around to senior Matt Daoust. On an isolation drive, Daoust drove the bakset, spinning around his defender for the bucket.

Trailing by three, Loras called their final timeout to draw up a sideline play for a game-tying 3-point shot. With defenders lining the arc, the Kohawks picked off the inbounds pass ending Loras' comeback attempt. A pair of free throws iced the game, as the Duhawks fell 71-66.