MINNEAPOLIS (Duhawks.com) - After leading by as many as 16 in the second half, the Loras men's basketball team squandered its double-digit lead, falling to Augsburg, 79-78. Freshman Rowan McGowen finished with a game-high and career-best 21 points.

POST GAME COMMENTARY (Link)


SERIES NOTABLES
- Augsburg extended its series lead over Loras to 3-1 in the teams' first meeting since 2009

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
- Loras closed the first half on a 17-7 run and took a 12-point lead into the locker room
- The Duhawks extended their lead to 16 with 14:57 to play but Augsburg roared back thanks to a 21-5 run from the 7:47 mark of the second half to the 1:17 mark ... During that run, Loras was 1-of-5 from the floor while the Auggies were 7-of-10
- With 38 seconds to play, Augsburg's Booker Coplin drained a 3-pointer that proved to be the difference

TEAM NOTABLES
- Saturday marked the first loss of the season by single-digits … Under head coach Chris Martin, Loras is 15-4 in games decided by nine points or less
- For the first time this season, an opponent connected on more 3-pointers than the Duhawks with Augsburg finishing with nine

INDIVIDUAL NOTABLES
- Junior Jake Toman recorded his first perfect shooting night of at least five shots, finishing 6-of-6 from the floor and added a free throw to finish with 13 points
- Ruggles was held to single-digit points for the first time this season
- Sophomore Udo Agomo scored a career-high four points
- Junior Ryan DiCanio moved his career scoring total to 801 points

FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME - ROWAN McGOWEN
- The freshman posted a career-best 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 5-of-8 from distance … He tied for the team lead with five assists which tied a career-best 

UP NEXT
- Loras breaks for finals next week and returns to the hardwood on Sunday, Dec. 17 at Carroll. The Pioneers are 2-4 after a loss to Millikin on Saturday night. Tip-off from inside Van Male Fieldhouse is set for 4 p.m.