MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Dec. 17, 2022) – Pulling off close victories is starting to become a habit for the Loras College men's basketball team as the Duhawks managed to sneak out with a 63-57 victory versus Centre College on Saturday afternoon, marking the fourth game in a row that the Duhawks have won by nine points of fewer.

The Duhawks (6-3) trailed for much of the game on Saturday, but put together a late charge against the Colonels (2-6) to stave off what would have been an upset victory for the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) team.

Loras trailed Centre for almost the entirety of the first half, but the margin never exceeded six points as both sides kept things similar on the stat sheet. Centre ultimately took a 28-25 lead into the locker room after Cade Stinnett sank a three-pointer in the waning moments of the half.

The Colonels maintained a steady lead through the first 10 minutes of the second half and had their lead back up to six with about 11 minutes to play, but a 5-0 run for junior guard Myles Barry kept the Duhawks in striking distance.

Loras trailed by five with five minutes left, but the momentum shifted as back-to-back three-pointers from junior Declan Ciurlik and sophomore Jared Pearson put the Duhawks up 49-48 for their first lead since the score was 3-2 in the opening minutes.

Those two threes were part of a 10-0 run for Loras as Pearson finished the run with a another three-pointer to make it 53-48. The Colonels hung around and cut the lead back down to one, but another big three from Pearson helped keep the Duhawks ahead.

Centre began fouling in the closing minute, but junior guard Ali Sabet connected on three of his four free throws in the final minute to secure another close win for the Duhawks.

Pearson came off the bench for Loras and managed a career-high 12 points on a 4-for-7 shooting performance from behind the arc as each of his four makes came in the second half. Pearson was one of just two Duhawks to finish in double figures as sophomore guard Tyler Bass continued to shine with a 14-point, 15-rebound double-double.

Bass' 15 rebounds, which include six on the offensive end, mark a new career-high while he also added two steals and an assist to his stat line on Saturday afternoon.

Barry and Ciurlik each added nine points as both connected on a pair of three-pointers to help the Duhawk cause.

Loras turns around for another game in Memphis on Sunday, Dec. 18 as they face off against the hosting Rhodes College Lynx at 2 P.M.