DUBUQUE, Iowa – Looking to complete the season sweep, the Loras College Duhawks are set to face the Simpson College Storm for the second time in less than a calendar week as the team heads to Indianola on Saturday, Feb. 10. Tip from Cowles Fieldhouse is set for 4 p.m.
 
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LAST TIME OUT
Led by 41 points from fifth-year guard Ali Sabet, the Loras College Duhawks defeated Buena Vista University, 99-77, on Wednesday evening inside of the Lillis Athletic & Wellness Center.

Sabet put on a masterclass in scoring, going 14-for-21 (66.7 percent) from the floor en route to scoring the sixth-most points in a single game in Loras history. His eight three pointers are tied for the fifth-most, matching Matt Uthoff from the 2002-03 season.

Sabet becomes just the fifth 40-point scorer in program history, joining the likes of Josh Ruggles (42 – 2017-18, 43 – 2018-19), Mike Lambe (44 – 1994-95), Chuck Von Feldt (48 – 1967-68), and Chris Jans (49 – 1990-91).

Sabet's 41 points are the second-most scored by any player in the American Rivers Conference this season and is tied for the 11^th-most across any division of the NCAA over the year.

Finishing second in scoring on the night for the Purple and Gold was Tyler Bass, who dropped 13 points and pulled in six rebounds, while dishing out three assists. The junior forward was 6-of-11 (54.5 percent) from the field in 24 minutes of play.

Closing out Duhawks in double-digits was Jack Haynes and Declan Ciurlik, who each finished with 11 points. Haynes went 5-of-7 (71.4 percent) from the field, while Ciurlik was 4-6 (66.7 percent), including 3-of-4 (75 percent) from distance.

The two teams battled back-and-forth over the first eight-plus minutes of action and stood at a 17-all tie with 11:33 to play in the first half. A 13-3 run over the ensuing three minutes opened an eight-point lead (28-20) for Loras with 8:30 to play, but a three from BVU's Michael Santich brought the Beavers within five. From there, Loras would go on a 30-14 run, highlighted by 13 points from Sabet, to close the half up 58-37.

The second half saw the Duhawks go on a tear over the first eight minutes, shooting 69.2 percent (9-for-13) over that span to open up an 84-54 lead with 11:47 to play in regulation. BVU began to pick up points late, but Loras' lead proved to be insurmountable.

As a team, the Duhawks shot 48.6 percent (36-for-74) from the field, including 41.9 percent (13-of-31) from downtown. The Duhawks held advantages in rebounding (40-33), points off turnovers (26-16), and second chance points (15-13).

With the win, the Duhawks remain second in the conference standings as the regular season comes to a close finish. Three games separate Loras from entering the A-R-C Tournament on Feb. 20 with the conference's two-seed. 
 
ABOUT THE DUHAWKS
Loras enters Saturday's match sitting second in the A-R-C standings with an overall record of 19-3, including a 10-3 mark in conference play. As a team, the Duhawks average 87.5 points per game, good for the eighth-best offense in all of Division III. The team knocks down the fourth-most threes in the country per game (12.5), at a rate of 38.7 percent – which is the 13^th-best mark in the land.

Sabet leads the way in scoring for the Purple and Gold at 19.1 points per game, followed by Jackson Molstead at 12.8. Haynes averages 12.5 per game, while Bass wraps up double-digit scorers at 12.4. Bass pulls in a team-high seven rebounds per game, followed by Haynes at 6.1. Haynes is fifth in the nation with his field goal percentage of 67.1 percent, while Sabet is second in free throw percentage at 93.8.
 
SCOUTING THE STORM
Simpson has lost its last four, with Nebraska Wesleyan most recently having beat the Storm, 77-65, on Wednesday evening. SC enters the weekend bout with a record of 8-15, including a 2-12 mark in A-R-C action, placing them seventh in the conference standings. As a team, the Storm average 78.5 points per game on 44.9 percent shooting from the field, with a mark of 35.6 percent from beyond the arc.

Senior guard Andrew Gibb leads the way in scoring with 19 points per game, followed by fellow guard Andrew Curran at 13.2. Senior guard Easton Darling and junior forward Caden Rehmeier close out Simpson's double-digit scorers at 12 and 11.8 points per game, respectively. Rehmeier leads the way in rebounding at 4.9 boards per game, followed by senior forward Austin Murrow at 4.6.
 
A-R-C STANDINGS
1. Coe College (19-3, 11-2)
2. Loras College (19-3, 10-3)
3. Nebraska Wesleyan (19-3, 10-3)
4. Central College (16-6, 10-3)
5. Dubuque (18-4, 9-4)
6. Buena Vista ((11-11, 4-9)
7. Simpson College (8-15, 2-12)
8. Luther College (7-16, 2-12)
9. Wartburg College (3-20, 2-12)
 
THE SERIES
The Purple and Gold have won their last five-straight over the Storm, with its most recent win coming against the program on Monday, Feb. 5, 95-77. The Duhawks are 32-13 over the last 21 years against Simpson and currently have won 10 of the past 11 matchups.