With snowy conditions outside, the Duhawks melted the rims at the Fieldhouse by shooting 51 percent for the game including 59 percent in the first half. The Duhawks were down early but surged back to take a 42-36 lead into the locker room.
Sophomore Luke Slater set a career high by totalling 18 points in the absence of Kyle White, who fouled out early in the second half after picking up a foul, then a technical. Slater also granned a game high nine rebounds.
Slater was one of four Duhawks in double figures. White finished with 14 when he fouled out, and Gavin Sullivan and Jake Oeth each contributed 10.
The Duhawks led by as many as 15 points in the second half, but the Spartans kept hanging around to make things interesting. Aurora coaxed Loras into 19 turnovers, but All-American forward Larry Welton was limited to just 10 points and eight rebounds after battling foul trouble. The Spartans have represented the NIIC in the postseason each of the past two seasons and were ranked 22nd in the nation in the preseason poll.
Loras (3-3) will travel to Ashford University on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.
Newspaper Box Score Aurora University vs Loras College 12/03/05 7:30 pm at Dubuque, Iowa -- Loras Fieldhouse At Dubuque, Iowa -- Loras Fieldhouse LORAS COLLEGE 69, AURORA UNIVERSITY 60 AURORA UNIVERSITY (4-3) ENGELHARDT, Luke 4-10 0-0 10; WELTON, Larry 5-10 0-0 10; TRUDO, Chad 3-6 1-2 10; MAGEE, Dusty 2-10 4-5 9; LAMBERT, Doug 2-6 0-0 6; CARTWRIGHT, Jeremy 3-13 0-1 6; CARSON, Courtney 3-7 0-0 6; RAUCH, Jeremy 1-1 0-0 2; CARSON, Tony 0-1 1-2 1; GULLICKSON, Erik 0-0 0-0 0; BURDEN, Aaron 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-64 6-10 60. LORAS COLLEGE (3-3) SLATER, Luke 6-8 6-8 20; WHITE, Kyle 4-6 6-8 14; SULLIVAN, Gavin 2-4 5-6 10; OETH, Jake 2-8 5-6 10; BRADEN, Scottie 2-5 0-0 5; KING, Greg 2-7 0-0 4; SHAMLIN, Chase 2-2 0-2 4; STINEMAN, Bobby 1-1 0-0 2; ROWE, Reggie 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-41 22-30 69. Aurora University............. 36 24 - 60 Loras College................. 42 27 - 69 3-point goals-Aurora University 8-30 (TRUDO, Chad 3-6; ENGELHARDT, Luke 2-6; LAMBERT, Doug 2-4; MAGEE, Dusty 1-9; CARSON, Courtney 0-1; WELTON, Larry 0-4), Loras College 5-13 (SLATER, Luke 2-2; OETH, Jake 1-3; SULLIVAN, Gavin 1-3; BRADEN, Scottie 1-2; KING, Greg 0-2; WHITE, Kyle 0-1). Fouled out--Aurora University-None, Loras College-WHITE, Kyle. Rebounds-Aurora University 33 (WELTON, Larry 8), Loras College 40 (SLATER, Luke 9). Assists-Aurora University 8 (MAGEE, Dusty 2; BURDEN, Aaron 2; WELTON, Larry 2), Loras College 12 (OETH, Jake 6). Total fouls-Aurora University 22, Loras College 17. A-415 Home opener for Loras College.