Contact: Emily Adlfinger, Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7970

Dec. 30, 2019 – A career-high 28 points from junior Rowan McGowen helped the Loras College men's basketball team close out 2019 on a high note as the Duhawks (10-2, 3-0 A-R-C) scored a 91-79 win against MacMurray College (7-3) on Monday evening.

Three layups by JT Ford helped the Duhawks open the game with an 8-5 lead, but the Highlanders came charging back to take a 16-15 lead at the midpoint of the first half. McGowen hit his first three-pointer of the night to put Loras ahead by two but both teams were fighting for the lead as MacMurray pulled away again to take the lead, 22-18, with 8:34 to play. It was McGowen again who helped spark the Duhawks' offense, hitting another three-pointer off an assist from Jeff Kratz to give Loras momentum and a 26-22 lead.

Loras held a 37-33 lead at the half and never looked back as a three-pointer from none other than McGowan with 5:28 left to play gave the Duhawks the largest margin of the night, up 18 points against the Highlanders. Loras also saw Jalen Boyd and Jordan Boyd, Matt Dacy-Seijo, Ocean Johnson, Jackson Kolinski, and Cole Navigato tally points in the second half to help the Duhawks improve to 10-2 on the season and bring momentum into American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) in the new year.

McGowen was 11-16 from the field and 6-10 beyond the arc on his career night while Dacy-Seijo added 12 points and Ford and Cole Navigato tallied 11 points each. Ford paced the Duhawks with seven rebounds and Jeff Kratz had a team-high three steals.

Loras opens the new year at home on Saturday, Jan. 4, hosting Nebraska Wesleyan University after a break from A-R-C play. Tip-off inside the Athletic & Wellness Center is set for 4 P.M.