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

Jan. 12, 2022 – In a back-and-forth matchup from start to finish, sophomore Ali Sabet had another team-leading performance for the Loras College men's basketball team (11-3, 3-3 A-R-C) on Wednesday with a season-high 27 points against the defending American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) champions, the University of Dubuque (10-5, 5-1 A-R-C) but the Duhawks fell in the crosstown rivalry matchup, 70-64, at the Stoltz Center.

Sabet gave Loras an early lead with a three-pointer to open the game and a layup but a run by the Spartans put them ahead 9-5 in the first five minutes. Alex Singleton found a lane for a layup to tie the game and added another on the next possession to put Loras ahead by two. Declan Ciurlik found space for a layup and drew the foul for a three-point play, extending Loras' lead and Jake Healy kept it going with five points, making the score 19-15 in favor of the Duhawks with 8:13 left in the half. Dubuque took back the lead with under six to go but a blocked shot by Kolinski with two minutes left in the half gave the Duhawks the ball and Sabet another chance at a three-pointer which he drained to bring Loras within one point of the Spartans. Loras regained possession on a turnover and Jake Healy drew a foul beyond the arc, setting him up for three free throws and giving Loras the lead, 30-28 with one minute remaining in the half, and Loras held off Dubuque's offense to maintain the lead going into the locker room.

Another three-pointer by Sabet kept Loras' lead to start the second half until the Spartans tied it up, 41-41 with 15:42 left. Dubuque took the lead back but Rowan McGowen knotted it again with a three-pointer two minutes later and a pair of free-throws by Griffen Clark put Loras up by two. Clark hit a three pointer on the next possession and Sabet added another to edge Dubuque, 54-50, with under ten minutes remaining, but a crosstown rivalry showdown was underway and it was going to be a tight contest to the end. A layup by Sabet with 6:45 to play put Loras in the lead, 58-56 but the Spartans tied it back up and began their final run, pulling ahead by as much as seven with less than two minutes remaining. The Duhawks remained resilient and Sabet tacked on four more points to cut the gap but Dubuque held on by free throws to take the win as time expired.

Sabet made a season-high ten field goals and tied his season high five three-pointers, shooting 5-7 on the night, and led the team with three assists. Healy scored 11 points and Ciurlik added a team-high six rebounds while Clark came away with three steals. The Duhawks shot 86 percent from the free-throw line and were a perfect 6-6 in the second half but the Spartans held the advantage in field goal shooting (52 percent) and won the battle at the boards with 34 to Loras' 23.

With the postponement of the Nebraska Wesleyan University game on Saturday, the Duhawks return to A-R-C action on Wednesday, Jan. 19, hosting RV Wartburg College at 7:30 P.M. Fans are reminded masks are required for all events inside the Patrick J. Lillis Athletic and Wellness Center and links for live stats and video for the game are available HERE.