DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The Loras men's basketball team improved to 3-1 this season following a 90-88 win over Ripon on Saturday inside the Athletic & Wellness Center. Junior Jake Toman hit the game-winning shot with three seconds left on the clock to seal the victory for the Duhawks. Sophomore Josh Ruggles finished with career-high 37 points on 11-of-14 to lead the offensive charge.

POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE (Link)


SERIES NOTABLES
• Following Saturday's win, Loras is now 1-4 all time against Ripon

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
• Ripon capitalized on two Loras turnovers within the first two minutes of regulation to take an early 10-2 lead, forcing a Duhawk timeout at the 18:02 mark
• Loras took it's first lead of the game with 14 minutes on the clock when junior Ryan DiCanio found freshman Cole Navigato inside as he kissed one off the glass for a 15-14 lead
• The Red Hawks regained their lead with an eight-point run, only to be ended by a three from Ruggles
• With 8:50 on the clock, redshirt freshman David Wedewer drained a 3-ball to put the Duhawks up 29-28 over Ripon
• From 5:01-3:35 of the first half, Loras committed four turnovers which resulted in a 4-0 run for the Red Hawks
• Four-straight points from Ruggles pulled the sides even at 40-all 
• Despite starting the second half with a seven-point run, the Duhawks lost their lead at 16:02 when Ripon went on a 6-0 run, forcing a Loras timeout. 
• In a 20 second span, Ruggles went a 4-0 run on his own, pushing Loras back in front of the Red Hawks, 61-60 after two free-throws and a layup. 
• DiCanio dished out two straight assists on back-to-back 3-pointers by freshman Rowan McGowen and sophomore Matt Dacy-Seijo, forcing a Ripon timeout at 10:44
• A 9-0 run from the Red Hawks gave Ripon a 71-69 lead with less than eight minutes remaining in the half
• The Red Hawks tied the game at 88-all after a 3-pointer with 13 seconds remaining in regulation … Out of hte Loras timeout, Toman took it himself to the rim to put his team in front for good

TEAM NOTABLES
• Ripon lead the game for 20:49 while Loras held the lead for 15:07 with the Duhawks largest lead of the game being seven points
• Loras out-rebounded the Red Hawks 40-25
• The Duhawks' 18 converted free-throws is a season-best

INDIVIDUAL NOTABLES
• Ruggles' 37 points and 11 field goals are both career-bests … His scoring output is tied for 11th-best in Division III this season … Through the first four games of the season, he is averaging 24.0 points per game, which is tied for best in the Iowa Conference
• In each game this season, Ruggles has scored more points than his previous game
• Wedewer's eight points is a season high for the Wahlert Catholic prep
• Saturday's game marked Navigato's first career start for the Purple & Gold

FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME - JOSH RUGGLES
• Ruggles finished with a career-high 37 points in Saturday's win after shooting 5-of-7 from beyond-the-arc … He added five rebounds, four assists and three steals

UP NEXT
• Loras travels to Cedar Rapids to take on Coe in the Duhawk's Iowa Conference lid-lifter … Tip off is set for 8 p.m. from inside Kohawk Arena