CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The #19 Coe College men's basketball team suffered a loss in its American Rivers Conference tournament opener on Thursday at Kohawk Arena, falling 76-73 to third-seeded Loras College. Loras and Coe were locked in a battle for all 40 minutes, with neither team leading by more than eight points throughout the contest. Coe got off to a strong start, opening up a 17-10 lead seven minutes in as a balanced attack produced the early lead. Loras fought back and controlled the remaining moments of the half, outscoring the Kohawks 26-17 to take a 36-34 lead before the break. The visitors pushed their lead to start the second half, extending the advantage to 50-43 thanks to an early 14-9 run in the period. Coe responded well during the following five minutes, regaining control with a dominant 15-2 run. Loras grabbed momentum around the seven-minute mark and never looked back, ending the game on a 15-4 run as the visitors shot 6-of-10 and held Coe to just 1-of-7 in the final six-plus minutes.
Cael Schmitt and
Bennett Sherry matched each other to lead the offense, scoring 18 points each while Sherry added five boards, two blocks and one steal.
Cooper Nailor (13) and
Josh Schloe (11) rounded out the double-digit scorers for Coe, each complimenting Schmitt and Sherry well.
LORAS 76 - #19 COE 73
GAME FACTS
- The Duhawks began the game with a 3 but Coe quickly gained control, scoring the next seven points to take an early lead. The lead grew to seven later in the frame as Coe scored eight unanswered points that were capped off by a slam from Sherry. Loras slowly chipped away at Coe's lead, narrowly edging the Kohawks 20-15 in the next nine-plus minutes of action. John Steffen scored Coe's final bucket of the half with over three minutes to play, giving his team a 34-30 late in the period. Loras would score the final six points of the half, going 3-of-5 in the closing stretch to grab a 36-34 lead at the break. The visitors continued to click following the half, opening the second on a 14-9 run which gave the Duhawks a 50-43 lead with 15:31 to play. Coe took over at the 15-minute mark, putting together a 15-2 run which featured four points each from Sherry, Schmitt and Schloe. The Kohawks furthered their lead before the seven-minute mark, pushing the the advantage to eight on a 3 from Nailor. Loras closed the game on top, completing the late comeback thanks to its dominant 15-4 run. The Duhawks got five points each from Ali Sabet and Declan Ciurlik and defensively, held Coe to just one field and and four points during the closing stretch.
#KohawkNation #TalonsOut
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