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

MEQUON, Wis. (Jan. 13, 2021) – The Loras College men's basketball team (0-1) faced a tough matchup in the opening game of the 2020-21 season as the Duhawks came up just short of the win at Concordia University Wisconsin (1-0) on Wednesday night, falling to the Falcons, 96-84.

Loras got off to a hot start with back to back layups from Jackson Kolinski and Cole Navigato before Rowen McGowen hit his first three-pointer of the game to extend the lead, 7-2. Concordia Wisconsin kept it close, pulling within one with 13:50 to play in the half but another three-pointer by McGowen gave the Duhawks back a four-point cushion, 19-15, with 12:25 on the clock. The Falcons knotted the score 21-21 with 9:53 in the half, but Griffen Clark hit a three-pointer to give the Duhawks back the lead.

Concordia Wisconsin responded with a three-pointer of their own on the next possession but Zach Deering answered back with a three-pointer to put Loras back on top. It was short lived as Concordia Wisconsin found a rhythm and shifted the momentum their way, going on a run late in the half to take a five-point, 42-37 lead with under a minute to go. McGowen sent the Duhawks into the locker room with a three-pointer and cut the Falcons' lead 42-40 going into the second half.

A pair of free throws from Jake Healy and another three-pointer from McGowen put Loras ahead 45-44 in the opening minutes of the half and the teams traded points until the Falcons broke away for a moment to lead 53-49 with 15:45 to play. A layup from Myles Barry and a free-throw from Deering brought Loras within one point of Concordia Wisconsin, but the Falcons still held the edge, regaining a three-point lead with 9:12 remaining. McGowen erased the deficit with a three-pointer until the Falcons responded with a three right after and began to build a seven-point lead with 4:30 left in the game. McGowen, Healy and Navigato scored in the final minutes as the Duhawks fought to keep it close, but a dunk for the Falcons with 1:30 to play brought the lead to ten-points. Clark and McGowen added a three-pointer and layup in the final minute, but the Falcons had enough of a lead to hold on for the 96-84 win.

McGowen drained seven three-pointers and led the team with 27 points while Navigato and Clark scored 17 each. Healy posted a career-high 11 assists and led the team with six rebounds. Declan Ciurlik came away with four steals for the Duhawks in his collegiate debut.

The Duhawks return to action on Monday, Jan. 18 at Edgewood College. Tip-off at the Todd Wehr Edgedome is set for 6 P.M.