WAVERLY, Iowa (Jan. 18, 2023) – A 50-point second half wasn't enough for the Loras College men's basketball team on Wednesday night as the Duhawks couldn't keep pace with the Wartburg Knights, who shot their way to a 93-78 home victory.

The Duhawks (11-6, 5-3 A-R-C) lost their second consecutive game for the first time this season despite shooting a serviceable 44.6 percent from the field, but it paled in comparison to the 69.6 percent mark from the Knights (7-10, 4-4 A-RC).

Wartburg's 32 makes on its 46 attempts are the most by a Loras opponent since Concordia University Chicago and Greenville University made 33 and 34 field goals, respectively, in the first two games of the 2022-23 season. The Knights' shooting percentage marks their best all season while their 13-for-21 performance from three-point range also marks a season-high.

The Duhawks never led on Wednesday as the Knights were simply shooting the ball too well. Loras trailed by just one point with eight minutes to play in the first half, but the Knights connected on six three pointers between then and the end of the half to take a 17-point lead into the locker room.

Despite going down by more than 20 early in the second half, the Duhawks stayed the course and managed to cut the deficit down to single digits near the midway point of the period. The lead was as few as nine points within the six-minute mark of the half, but trading baskets with the Knights wasn't enough to mount a comeback for the Duhawks.

Loras didn't shoot it at the same clip as the Knights did, but they did hold onto the ball better than the home team as the Duhawks only committed nine turnovers in the game compared to 19 for Wartburg. The Duhawks led the points-off-turnovers battle 23-15 and got 29 bench points compared to Wartburg's 22.

Ten players – five for each side, including all five Wartburg starters – finished the high-scoring affair in double figures. Sophomore guard Jared Pearson came off the bench and led all scorers in the game with a career-high 22 points for the Duhawks. Pearson finished 9-for-14 from the field and 4-for-8 from three-point range.

Pearson was joined in double figures by starters Tyler Bass (14), Ali Sabet (13), Myles Barry (10), and Alex Singleton (10).

Loras is back in action on the road this Saturday, Jan. 21, when it travels to Storm Lake, Iowa for a 4 P.M. matchup with Buena Vista University.