DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - Despite a 59-point second half, the Loras men's basketball team had its conference tournament championship hopes dashed on Thursday as the Duhawks fell to sixth-seeded Central, 113-108. Ryan DiCanio registered his sixth double-double of the season, finishing with 23 points and 11 rebounds.

PRESS CONFERENCE - Demond George (Link)


PRESS CONFERENCE - Head Coach Chris Martin (Link)


MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
- After back-to-back 3-pointers by the Duhawks, Central responded with an 18-6 run, holding Loras to 1-of-7 from the floor
- At 5:11 of the first half, the Duhawks ran off an 8-2 run thanks to three Dutch turnovers … Loras' eight points were split evenly between Josh Ruggles and Jake Toman
- Central finished the first half shooting 65.6 percent from the floor
- At 8:18 in the second half, Loras had a 9-0 run that started with a Ruggles three and ended with a McGowen three that cut the Central lead to four at 83-79
- From 2:29 to :12, Central recorded at least one point in each of their nine possessions, helping to keep the Duhawk comeback at bay
- With :13 remaining, a layup by Ruggles and two free-throws by Ruggles and Demond George cut it within two
- Two missed free-throws by Loras with seven seconds remaining sealed the win for the Dutch

TEAM NOTABLES
- The Duhawks conclude their season at 19-7
- The 2017-18 season resulted in four program records broken including 3-pointers, 3-pointers made per game, 3-pointers attempted and assists … With the exception of one record, they were set in the 1990-91 season

INDIVIDUAL NOTABLES
- Ruggles' illustrious season came to a close on Thursday with the junior ranking seventh or better all-time in four statistical categories including free-throws (2nd-164), 3-pointers (3rd-89), points per game (7th-22.4) and points scored (7th-583) … Entering his senior campaign, Ruggles needs 161 points to reach 1,000 for his career and 264 to complete the milestone consisting of points scored in Division III
- DiCanio finished his season ranked eighth all-time with 123 assists and 118 3-pointers … His 1,139 points rank 22nd all-time
- George enters his senior year with 713 points, needing 287 to reach 1,000

FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME - Ryan DiCanio
- DiCanio notched 23 points and out-rebounded the field with 11 for his fifth double-double this season … Twelve of DiCanio's 23 point on Thursday resulted from his perimete shooterShooting 57.1 percent from the field and 80.0 percent from behind the arc, DiCanio had 12 of his 23 point from threes