Notables
-Loras receiving votes in the D3hoops.com poll
-Bench Points: CSS-27, Loras-17
-Loras has won all four meetings against the Saints
DUBUQUE, Iowa (
csssaints.com) – Loras College's (Iowa) Rowan McGowen banked in a 3-pointer as time expired to defeat the St. Scholastica men's basketball team 81-80 late Friday night in the Loras Tip-Off Classic.
How it Ended
The Duhawks (2-0) drained back-to-back 3-pointers with over a minute to play to take a 78-76 lead. A
Jarod Wilken (Annandale, Minn./Annandale HS) floater did not drop on the other end. However, Loras would throw the ball away in the in the final 20 seconds to give it back to the Saints.
Following a CSS timeout,
Collin Anderson (Eagan, Minn./Eagan HS), who had a big second half, would get the ball and hit a step-back 3-pointer to give the Saints 79-78 lead with 2.6 seconds left.
On the ensuing inbounds, the Duhawks stepped on the sideline to give the ball to the Saints. At this point, it appeared the Saints were on their way to victory.
Quinn Fischer (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) would be fouled with over a second remaining. Fischer would miss the first free throw and make the second to make it 80-78.
Loras would be able to advance the ball to mid-court and call timeout with still time on the clock. Following the timeout, McGowen would get a look from 40-feet out and the ball would bank off the glass, roll around the rim, sit on the back rim before eventually falling through the net, stunning the Saints 81-80.
How We Got to that Point
The Saints got off to a great start and would lead by as much as 11 with less than four minutes remaining in the first half. However, the Duhawks went on an 8-0 run to cut the halftime margin to three 36-33 in favor of the Saints.
Loras then opened the second half with a 15-2 run to take a 10-point lead. The Saints quickly got back in it as Anderson scored eight straight points to give the Saints the lead back midway thru the second half. Neither team would lead by more than two points the rest of the way.
Top Performances for CSS
Anderson scored 16 of his team-high 20 points in the second half. Anderson made seven of his final eight field goal attempts. In his first collegiate game, Fischer had 18 points, including a big 3-pointer late in the game. Wilken nearly had a double-double with 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds.
Brandon Newman (Barnum, Minn./Barnum HS) finished with 10 points.
Top Performances for the Opponent
Josh Ruggles had a game-high 28 points, 17 of which coming in the second half. McGowan scored all 14 of his points in the second half. Ryan DiCanio finished with 15 points.
Up Next
The Saints will face the University of Dubuque (Iowa) tomorrow at the Loras Tip-off Classic with action slated for 2 p.m.
