STORM LAKE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) – The Loras men's basketball team executed down the stretch to top Buena Vista on Saturday, 73-71. Senior Mirko Grcic (21) and junior Justin VanWambeke (25) both contributed 20-point performances in the contest to help the Duhawks keep pace with Simpson, who lost on Saturday to Coe. With the win, Loras clinched a berth into the Iowa Conference Tournament and currently sit in a tie for second place.

TURNING POINT
With 2:47 remaining in the game, the Duhawks (12-11, 7-5 IIAC) trailed 68-63 to the Beavers (9-14, 4-8 IIAC). Demond George drained a 3-pointer to jumpstart a 10-3 scoring run that Loras executed to finish the game 

HOW IT HAPPENED 
First Half 
Despite not being the first to score, the Duhawks' came out of the gates in a fast-paced fashion. Struggling to work the ball in the lane, Loras turned to their perimeter play. The Duhawks's first nine points came from 3-pointers by Grcic and Vanwambeke.

This momentum enabled the Duhawks to garner a substantial lead over the Beavers. After five minutes of play, Loras had a 14-4 advantage. This 10-2 scoring run caused Buena Vista to call a timeout and regroup. Unfortunately for the Duhawks, this timeout took them out of their rhythm.

Over the next six minutes, the Beavers scored 14 unanswered points to take an 18-14 lead, with scoring coming from six different players. Grcic put a stop to the scoring run with a deep jumper from the wing. With 2:07 remaining in the half, the Duhawks regained a 36-30 lead after nine unanswered points of their own.

A half-high 19-point performance from Grcic helped Loras to a 42-35 lead at the halftime break.

Second Half 
Buena Vista opened the half on a 10-4 run, cutting Loras' deficit to one point. Over the next seven minutes, both sides exchanged baskets with neither team able to grab a solid hold of the momentum.

With 8:33 remaining in the game, the Beavers took a 55-54 lead after a 3-point play from Bobby Burke. Buena Vista extended their lead by as many as five points, largely because of their execution from the free throw line, converting on 10-of-14. With 2:47 remaining, the Beavers held firm with a 68-63 lead.

A 3-pointer by freshman Demond George with 2:47 to play sparked the Duhawks' comeback. Even though Loras missed five shots from the floor, the Duhawks hauled in five offensive rebounds, which all resulted in second-chance points. Buena Vista went 1-for-3 from the floor and 2-for-4 from the free throw line in the closing minutes.

Both sides combined for three timeouts in the final 10 seconds, but in the end, a turnover by the Beaver's sealed their fate, as Loras held on for the 71-68 win.

FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME 
Mirko Grcic | Grcic recorded a double-double on the night with 21 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 9-of-18 from the floor.

SOUNDBITES | Greg Gorton


UP NEXT 
The Duhawks will play the first of their final two conference matchups at home on Wednesday, Feb. 17 against Central. The Dutch (15-8, 6-6 IIAC) defeated Wartburg 101-75 on Saturday. The Duhawks will look to defeat Central after falling to them 72–61 earlier this season.

STORIFY