DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The Loras men's basketball team fell at home Saturday against Nebraska Wesleyan, 101-94. With the loss, the Duhawks have claimed a share of the Iowa Conference Regular Season Title and will be the No. 2 seed in the postseason tournament. Sophomore
Ryan DiCanio finished with 19 total points and nine rebounds to lead the effort.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
First Half
- Trailing 9-7, the Duhawks used a 10-2 run, which included two triples and a layup from sophomore Demond George, to open up an eight-point advantage.
- An 8-0 run from the Prairie Wolves put them back in front at the 13:17 mark, taking a 27-25 lead.
- Both sides traded baskets for much of the first half's completion, but NWU opened up a five-point margin with a 6-1 run with 2:06 remaining.
- Loras answered the Prairie Wolves "flurry" with a run of their own to take a one-point lead at 45-44, but not before Nebraska Wesleyan retook the lead just before the end of the half thanks to a jumper from Trevor Leiting.
Second Half
- A critical string of 11-straight points to open up the second half put Nebraska Wesleyan in the driver's seat, at 57-45 at the 16:12 mark.Â
- The Duhawks answered the call once again, battling back to pull within two points at the 11:00 minute mark after an offensive board and putback layup from sophomore Ryan DiCanio.
- Senior Justin VanWambeke gave Loras their first lead of the second half with 5:41 left, knocking down a pair of free-throws to go ahead, 80-79.
- Clinging to a one-point lead, the Prairie Wolves ran off six-consecutive points to take a commanding 91-84 lead with 2:52 left.Â
- In the closing moments, the Duhawks made it 99-94 on a 3-pointer from freshman Matt Dacy-Seijo, but two more Nebraska Wesleyan free throws sealed Loras fate, falling 101-94.
FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME
Ryan DiCanio | The sophomore collected a team-high 21 points and nine rebounds, which moves him to within four points of 400 for the season and 669 for his career. Saturday also marked the third consecutive game of 20 points or more for the Bartlett prep.
NOTABLES
- Despite the loss, Loras claimed co-champion honors in the Iowa Conference for the program's first regular season title since the 2006-07 season
- In three of the Duhawks' seven losses this season, they've struggled from beyond the arc and on Saturday shot 25 percent (9-for-36)
- For the first time since the 2007-08 season, Loras enters the postseason with the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament
- The last time the Duhawks held the No. 2 seed, they went on to win the tournament for the second consecutive season and advance to the NCAA Tournament
SOUNDBITES
UP NEXT
After earning the No. 2 seed in the Iowa Conference Tournament, Loras is set to take on the winner of third-seeded Buena Vista and the fifth seed, Wartburg. Tip-off is set for Thursday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. inside the Athletic and Wellness Center.
