By Nick McClintock
DUBUQUE- The Illinois Wesleyan Titans began their 31-day road trip Saturday night, with an loss against the Loras College Duhawks 81-92.
The Titans used an explosive offense early, knocking down a Bryce Dolan three-pointer on the first possession of the game, and extending the lead to 10-3 before the Duhawks could recover. Loras would eventually drop the Titan advantage as part of a 9-2 run to take a short lead of 15-14 midway through the first half.
IWU would stop the bleeding and retake the lead, quickly going back by five points, as the Titans would hold the Duhawks at bay for the remainder of the half. The Titans would lead by as much as 12 points in the half, but went into the halftime break ahead 40-35.
Loras would draw closer at the beginning of the second half, rattling off the first four points and drawing to a one point, 40-39 game in the first two minutes. The Titans would again stem the tide of the Duhawks, moving to another five point lead with 16 minutes left in the half.
Another run for the Duhawks tied up the game at 44. Loras used a 9-0 run and a technical foul from IWU to go up 48-44 with 15:44 left in the half. IWU would have to slowly chip away at the lead, unable to go on the runs that helped them early on.
IWU would continue to trail for much of the rest of the second half, as Loras used the same game the Titans used in the first to hold IWU at bay. It would take another Dolan long ball to tie up the game with six minutes left at 64-64.
Loras and IWU would then go back and forth for a while, but it would be the Duhawks who eventually used a constant attacking offense to draw fouls and take their team to the foul line, and extend their lead.
Trevor Seibring led the Titans with 22 points. IWU falls to 4-3 on the season, ahead of a Monday night matchup with the University of Chicago.
