MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Dec. 31, 2022) – Loras College's men's basketball team ended the 2022 calendar year with a dramatic win on Saturday afternoon as it survived 76-71 at Wisconsin Lutheran College.

The Duhawks (9-3) sent eight players into the game and all eight found the scoreboard in a balanced attack against the Warriors (6-6). All eight Duhawks played double-digit minutes and seven of those eight recorded points, rebounds, and assists.

Loras led for most of the second half, but a late 15-3 run from the Warriors suddenly gave them a 69-65 lead with less than a minute and a half to play. Part of that run was aided by free throws awarded to the Warriors after a technical foul on the Duhawks.

That run came to a screeching halt as junior guard Myles Barry connected on a three-pointer on Loras' next possession to cut the lead down to one. On the next possession, senior guard Declan Ciurlik turned a steal into a fast-break layup to put the Duhawks ahead 70-69 with under a minute to play.

Junior guard Ali Sabet converted on all six of his free throw attempts in the final minute to help put the game on ice as the Duhawks finished off their seventh straight victory.

The game proved to be tight throughout as Loras and Wisconsin Lutheran headed into the halftime break tied at 31 as senior forward Zach Deering came off the bench to record seven points, seven rebounds, two blocks, one assist, and one steal in the opening 20 minutes. Deering went on to finish with nine points and eight rebounds, the latter of which marks a new career high.

Sabet led the Duhawks with 18 points as four of the starters finished in double figures. Ciurlik was close behind with 13 points while Barry and sophomore forward Alex Singleton each tallied 11.

Loras finishes its nonconference slate with a 6-3 record and will get back to American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) action on Wednesday, Jan. 4 when the Duhawks travel to play Luther College at 4 P.M.