STORM LAKE, Iowa (Jan. 21, 2023) – Loras College's men's basketball team desperately needed to get one to bounce their way, and the Duhawks got just that in the second half of an 81-66 road win at Buena Vista University to put a halt to a two-game skid on Saturday afternoon.

The Duhawks (12-6, 6-3 A-R-C) had lost each of their last two games, including the last by just one point, after their win over the University of Dubuque on Jan. 11. This much-needed win on Saturday helps them keep pace in the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) standings and gives them a sweep of the Beavers (7-10, 1-8 A-R-C) in the 2022-23 regular season.

Loras outscored the Beavers by 10 in the second half to create some separation on the scoreboard, but the game was far closer in the first half after a blistering start on offense for Buena Vista.

A three-pointer on the first possession put the Beavers up right from the jump as they maintained that lead for much of the first half. Zane Neubaum, one of the top scorers in the conference, tallied seven points within the first seven minutes of the game to help lead the offense that led the Duhawks 21-12 early in the half.

Loras kept the margin within 10 points, but the Duhawks couldn't quite get over the hump as they fought to keep pace. While trailing by 10, junior guard Ali Sabet sank a pivotal three-pointer for the Duhawks with 4:23 remaining before the halftime break.

That basket sparked something for the Duhawks as they finished the half on an 18-3 run, taking their first lead with under a minute to play on a layup from sophomore guard Jared Pearson.

That late lead change proved to be the only one of the game as Loras never looked back once it had snatched the momentum. The Duhawks steadily built their lead over the second half and extended it to as many as 19 points in the later stages of the game to run away with an important victory.

Sabet led all scorers with 22 points in the game on a 9-for-17 performance while adding seven rebounds. He was followed closely by a 14-point outing from junior guard Myles Barry, who drained four of his five three-pointer attempts and dished out five assists.

Junior guard Declan Ciurlik also finished in double figures with 12 points while the other two starters – sophomores Alex Singleton and Tyler Bass – each finished with nine points.

Loras begins the home stretch of the season on Wednesday, Jan. 25 when it hosts Simpson College at 7:30 P.M. That game will mark the first of five home games over the final seven to conclude the regular season.