DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Nebraska Wesleyan University men's basketball team dropped an American Rivers Conference matchup to Loras College, falling 80-45 on Saturday afternoon at the Athletic & Wellness Center.

The Prairie Wolves (9-3, 2-1 ARC) were paced by Jack Groeteke, who recorded a team-high 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Groeteke added three rebounds and three blocks to his stat line. Conner Brown chipped in five points and two rebounds, while Seth Newton contributed five points and a team-high four rebounds. Despite their efforts, NWU struggled offensively, shooting 38% (19-for-50) from the floor and just 15% (3-for-20) from beyond the arc.

Loras (9-3, 3-0 ARC) utilized a balanced attack with four players in double figures, led by Gavin Sarvis' 19 points. The Duhawks capitalized on NWU's 15 turnovers, converting them into 19 points.

How It Happened

The Prairie Wolves hung tough early, trading baskets with the Duhawks in the opening minutes. Groeteke scored four of NWU's first eight points, keeping the game close trailing 11-8.. However, a flurry of three-pointers by Loras propelled the home team to a double-digit lead midway through the first half. NWU struggled to respond, as turnovers and missed opportunities allowed the Duhawks to extend their lead.

By halftime, Loras had built a 38-20 advantage, fueled by 37.5% shooting from three-point range. NWU's offensive struggles were evident, with the Prairie Wolves shooting just 32.1% in the first half and connecting on one of 13 attempts from beyond the arc.

The second half saw Loras maintain their momentum, opening the period with a 14-5 run to stretch their lead. Groeteke continued to battle, scoring ten of his 16 points after the break, but NWU couldn't find consistent scoring support. Despite a better shooting performance in the second half (45.5%), the Prairie Wolves were unable to cut into the deficit as Loras' depth and defensive intensity proved too much to overcome.

NWU managed to tally 26 points in the paint and 14 points from the bench but couldn't contain Loras' long-range shooting, as the Duhawks hit 40% of their three-pointers.

Up Next

The Prairie Wolves will look to bounce back on Wednesday, January 8, when they return on the road to Indianola to face Simpson College at 7:30 PM in another key American Rivers Conference matchup. 

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