DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Loras College men's basketball program is set to tip-off for the first time and start the 2023-24 season this weekend inside the AWC. The Duhawks will play host to Principia College on Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m., followed by a matchup with Concordia University-Chicago this Sunday, Nov. 12 at 4 p.m. The games will be billed as the Mike Molstead Motors Tipoff Classic, who is sponsoring the opening-weekend tourney.

THE SCHEDULE & HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
Saturday, November 11
Game One: Concordia University-Wisconsin vs. Central College | 4:30 p.m. | Live Stats | Stream
Game Two: Principia College vs. Loras College | 6:30 p.m. | Live Stats | Stream

Sunday, November 12
Game One: Central College vs. Principia College | 2 p.m. | Live Stats | Stream
Game Two: Concordia University-Wisconsin vs. Loras | 4 p.m. | Live Stats | Stream

LAST TIME OUT
Loras is coming off a 2022-23 campaign that included a 17-11 overall record, including a 9-7 mark in the A-R-C. The Duhawks earned the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament and took down the No. 5 seed Wartburg Knights in the quarterfinals and No. 1-seeded Central College Dutch in the semifinals before falling to Coe in the championship.

The Duhawks return all five starters from last season, including First Team All-Conference guard Ali Sabet and Second Team All-Conference forward Tyler Bass. Sabet finished last year averaging 17.4 points per game, while Bass had 13.9 points and seven rebounds per contest. Also returning to Loras is Myles Barry, Declan Ciurlik, and Alex Singleton, all of whom combine to score just north of 30 points per game.

THE MATCHUPS
Principia College: The Duhawks have faced off against the Panthers five times over the last 11 years and own a series record of 3-2 over that span. The Purple and Gold won the first three meetings, with its last victory coming on Nov. 22, 2014. That was also the last time Principia has been in Dubuque, as the previous two meetings were in Elsah, Ill.

Concordia University-Wisconsin: Loras has squared off against Falcons five times in the previous seven years and holds the advantage in the all-time series at 3-2. Last time the two programs faced off was Nov. 27, 2021, a game that resulted in an 89-66 Duhawk victory. The two teams have defended each of their home courts well, as the programs' wins in the series all come from the comforts of their home.

A-R-C PRESEASON POLLS
The Duhawks were picked to finish second in the 2023 American Rivers Conference Coaches' Preseason Poll, falling five first-place votes and eight points behind Central College for the top spot in the ranking. Coe College was picked to finish third with 49 points, followed by the University of Dubuque in fourth with 44 points.

FOLLOW THE DUHAWKS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Duhawks by following the team on Twitter at .@DuhawkMBB,Instagram at .@DuhawkMBB, and on Facebook at Loras College Athletics.