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

Dec. 29, 2021 – The Loras College men's basketball team (9-2, 2-1 A-R-C) rallied back after trailing in the opening minutes to score 16 unanswered points amidst a 23-point run in the first half to close the door on the Bethany Lutheran College Vikings (4-7, 1-1 UMAC) with a 93-72 win on Wednesday.

Bethany Lutheran kept the Duhawks scoreless for the first two minutes, taking a 6-0 lead but three-pointers by Rowan McGowen and Myles Barry helped get Loras going. The Vikings held the lead for the first ten minutes of the half before a layup by McGowen tied it, 19-19 and a three-pointer by Ali Sabet gave the Duhawks the go-ahead points. Bethany Lutheran knotted it again on the next possession but Jackson Kolinski grabbed an offensive board for a tip-in layup that sparked a scoring onslaught for the Duhawks which saw them control the remainder of the half and head into the locker room with a 45-27 lead.

The Vikings struck first coming out of the locker room but a three-pointer for McGowen at the 16:35 mark helped the Duhawks extend the lead 58-36. The Vikings tried to get something going on offense but the Duhawks went on an 8-0 run over the next two minutes, capped by a three-pointer by Declan Ciurlik put Loras up 68-40. In the final ten minutes, the Duhawks rattled off five three-pointers to stave off a late push by Bethany Lutheran and improve to 5-0 at home on the season.

McGowen led the team with 26 points, headlined by 6-11 shooting from three-point range, 8-18 from the field and a perfect 4-4 at the free throw line. Kolinski added 14 points and shared the team lead of nine rebounds with Ciurlik who also led with Ali Sabet with three assists. Griffen Clark went 4-6 for three and added 14 points off the bench and Sabet scored 12 points on the night. The Duhawks won the battle at the boards with 48 to the Vikings' 32, 23 of which came on offense to lead to 32 second chance points.

Loras' next game is against Lawrence University on the second day of the Loras Holiday Tournament. Tip-off inside the Patrick J. Lillis Athletic and Wellness Center is set for 8 P.M on Dec. 30.