News Release

DUBUQUE, Iowa — Luther Ends Duhawks’ Season in OT
By Tim Calderwood, Assistant Sports Information Director

The Loras College men’s basketball season came to an end on Tuesday night as sixth-seeded Luther College came to the Fieldhouse and walked away with a 79-74 upset win in overtime in the Iowa Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

The Norse were able to dictate the tempo of the game and never allowed the Duhawks to lead by more than three points in the tight contest that featured 18 ties and 14 lead changes. Luther attained the biggest lead of the first half when Erik Lowe connected on a desperation heave from just inside half-court at the buzzer, giving the Norse a 35-31 halftime lead.

Luther began to pull away at the start of the second half, building a 10-point lead at 41-31 with 17:45 to play. However, five straight points from senior Jeff Ludovissy playing in his final game as a Duhawk, cut the lead to five at 41-36 with 15:18 left. Luther continued to hold on to the lead until two free throws by Pete Silvestri knotted the game for the 13th time at 51.

Loras was able to use that momentum to take a 57-55 lead with 4:38 to play when Matt Murray made good on a lay-up. The lead was short lived as Luther tied it at 57 when Andy Rump made two free throws with 4:08 to play.

The Norse built the lead to four points with 2:36 to play when Drew Devine made it 61-57 with a lay-up. Loras continued to fight, and took a one-point lead at 62-61when Ludovissy hit his fourth three of the night with just over a minute remaining. The Norse answered on the very next possession. Lowe drilled a three-pointer to give Luther the lead back at 64-62.

The Duhawks managed to force an extra session when Bobby Stineman hit a pull-up jumper with 20 seconds left tying the game. Luther had a chance to win in regulation, but good defense by the Duhawks forced Erik Lowe to miss an off-balance lay-up at the buzzer.

In the extra session Loras led twice. A Stineman three-pointer gave the Duhawks a 67-66 lead with 4:26 left, and Matt Murray had a chance to give the Duhawks a two-point lead but only made one-of-two free throws after Luther’s Tony Brantner did the same, making it 68-67 Loras with 3:47 remaining. The Norse then finished the game on a 13-6 run and led by as many as eight in the waning moments.

Jeff Ludovissy finished with a game-high 28 points to cap his successful Loras career. Greg King added 18 points off the bench. Luther (8-18) was led by Andy Rump’s 20 points. Tony Brantner added 16 and Drew Devine contributed 14. The Norse will play at Buena Vista on Friday night.

The loss closed the most successful season in Loras history since joining Division III. The Duhawks finished the season 18-8, and set new highs for wins and conference wins since rejoining the Iowa Conference.