CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Feb. 1, 2023) – A close battle ended in a season sweep for the Loras College men's basketball team on Wednesday night as the Duhawks outlasted Coe College 79-75 for an important road victory.

The Duhawks (14-6, 8-3 A-R-C) needed a victory as they try to keep pace in the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) regular season standings, and they got just that as they fended off a late flurry from the Kohawks (11-10, 5-7 A-R-C).

After Wednesday's conference action, the Duhawks are tied atop the standings with Central College, which they will host this weekend.

Wednesday night's game saw 10 ties and eight lead changes throughout as both sides put on a fun display of college basketball. The teams split the lead for the first half almost down the middle as Loras was out front for the majority of the first 10 minutes while Coe held the advantage for the final 10.

The Kohawks led 39-38 at the halftime break and then pushed their lead to as many as seven in the early going of half number two, but Loras hung around and evened the score at 55 all with 13 minutes to play on a three-pointer from junior guard Ali Sabet.

Just past the halfway point in the half, a pair of free throws from junior guard Declan Ciurlik not only put Loras up 59-57, but they were also an early part of a 12-2 run that suddenly jumped the Duhawk lead up to eight points.

As the Duhawks maintained that gap for the next five or so minutes, they looked to be in control as the game headed to the final stretch. However, back-to-back three-pointers from Coe's TJ Schnurr and Bennett Sherry suddenly cut the lead back to two as they neared the final minute.

After a timeout, the Kohawks missed a game-tying jumper and gave possession back to Loras. The Duhawks killed some clock, then got a driving lay-in from Sabet to fall with under 30 seconds left to play.

A pair of late free throws for junior guard Myles Barry helped seal the deal after a quick bucket and foul from Coe.

All 10 starters in the game finished with at least 10 points in a collectively well-balanced contest. Sophomore guard Tyler Bass led the Duhawks with 18 points and tallied another double-double as he pulled down 11 rebounds. He led all players with eight made field goals on an 8-for-13 shooting performance.

Sabet was close behind with a 17-point total while Ciurlik (12), Barry (11), and senior forward Zach Deering (11) all finished in double figures. In the close game, the Duhawks finished 19-for-23 (82.6%) from the free throw line as each make proved pivotal.

The Duhawks are back at the Lillis Athletic and Wellness Center this Saturday, Feb. 4 for a Senior Day game versus Central College at 4 P.M.