Contact: Nathan Cameron, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7243

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (Dec. 17, 2021) - The Loras College men's basketball team (7-2, 2-1 A-R-C) kicked off their weekend in the Golden State as they went toe-to-toe with the California Lutheran University Kingsmen (8-1, 1-1 SCIAC), who were receiving votes in the most recent national rankings by d3hoops.com. The Duhawks kept the Kingsmen in check through the first half of the game, entering the half only trailing by one, but the Kingsmen escaped the Duhawks' second half pressure with a narrow 90-82 victory. 

Cal Lutheran got on the board first in the first half of the game as the two sides traded scoring before the Duhawks scored two unanswered layups to go ahead 6-4 early. Loras continued to hold the lead through the first four minutes, jumping ahead by five on a three pointer from Ali Sabet that brought the score to 12-7. Minutes later, Jackson Kolinski drove into the paint and made a layup to bring the Duhawks to their largest lead of the half at 17-11 with just under 14 minutes to play. 

The Kingsmen fought their way back to tie the game at 17 apiece as the two sides kept the game exciting, seeing the score tie five more times before the Duhawks jumped ahead by four at 29-25 on a Rowan McGowan three pointer with eight minutes to go in the half. As had been the story earlier in the half, Cal Lutheran came back and took at two point lead before Cole Navigato drew a foul to reach the free throw line where he sunk both to tie the game back up at 33-33 with 5:52 to play. Loras took a one point lead at the 4:41 mark on a Griffen Clark three pointer but the Kingsmen went into the locker room at halftime with a one point advantage at 40-39. 

Recharged from the halftime break, the Duhawks came out in the second half and took the lead once more on a layup by Kolinski. Cal Lutheran then scored seven straight but McGowan spoiled the run and cut the Duhawks' deficit to just three on a made three pointer. Minutes later, the Kingsmen again held a six point lead but Jake Healy made a layup of his own followed by another off the hand of Tyler Bass to bring the Duhawks back within two with 15:30 left to play in the half. 

A minute later, the Duhawks put up three straight on a pair of made free throws by Bass and a Healy layup to tie the game back up at 58-58. A pair of Cal Lutheran three pointers gave the Kingsmen a four point lead at 64-60 before Navigato cut their lead to just two on a layup midway through the half. With seven minutes left in the half, the Duhawks found themselves down by eight before McGowan sparked the offense and cut the deficit to just three on a three pointer that was followed by another Navigato layup. 

With two minutes left to go in the half, the Kingsmen held an 11 point lead but the Duhawks' grit was on display as Declan Ciurlik sunk a three with 22 seconds left before Bass hit a free throw with 11 seconds left to come within four but Cal Lutheran came away with the 90-82 win. 

Sabet led the Duhawks offensively with 17 points, shooting 6-12 from the field while McGown posted 16 points, going 6-14 with four from beyond the arc. Kolinski and Navigato tallied 15 points each with Kolinski leading the Duhawks with nine boards while Navigato grabbed four. Bass also played a key role defensively for the Duhawks, pulling down seven rebounds while recording seven points on the night. 

The Duhawks are back in action on Sunday, Dec. 19 as they meet up with University of La Verne. The game is scheduled for a 1:00 PM (PT) tip-off in La Verne, Calif.