DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Loras College men's basketball team fell to the University of Dubuque Spartans on Saturday night at the Stoltz Sports Center in a double overtime thriller.
The first half of play featured 13 lead changes and four ties. A three-pointer from Tyler Bass put the Duhawks in front 15-14, but the scores would go back-and-forth for the remainder of the half. Loras (17-8, 11-5 A-R-C) went into the locker room at the half with a one-point advantage (32-31). Jack Haynes led all scorers at the half, with 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Duhawks.
University of Dubuque (20-5, 14-2) came out of the half flat, as the Purple and Gold went on a 9-3 run. The Spartans responded with six unanswered points to get within one (41-40). Loras responded by going on a run of their own, scoring 10 straight points and achieved a game-high nine-point lead. But the University of Dubuque battled their way back and led with two and a half minutes left. With two seconds left, Bass' layup sent the game into overtime tied at 71 apiece.
In overtime, both squads traded fouls early. Gavin Sarvis' free throws ensured that the Duhawks kept up with the mounting pressure from UD. His lob to Tyler Bass shook the Stoltz Sports Center until Grady Thompson's layup brought the Loras lead down to one and back to a tie with his own free throws. Neither team could gain an advantage to close the first overtime tied 78-78.
In the second overtime, the exchange of fouls continued until Thompson's jumper tied things up at 83-83. From there it was all Spartans. A collective effort from Garrett Baumhover and Thompson was all they needed to snap the Duhawks' five-game win streak, winning 90-86 on Senior Night.
Sarvis led the way for the Duhawks with 25 points and six assists in 46 minutes played. Bass and Haynes each recorded a double-double, Bass with 13 points plus 12 rebounds and Haynes with 16 points and 20 rebounds. As a team, Loras shot 33.8 percent (27-of-80) from the floor and 27.6 percent (24-of-34) from beyond the arc.
Thompson's 29-point performance led all scorers, adding six rebounds in 40 minutes of work. Jacob Williams notched 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting and 13 rebounds. Jaylin McCants trailed right behind him, recording 13 points and nine rebounds despite fouling out. The Blue and White shot 40.0 percent (28-of-70) from the field and 23.8 percent (5-of-21) from three.
Up Next: The No. 3-seeded Duhawks will host the No. 6-seeded Wartburg College Knights at home on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Tipoff time is to be determined.
