Cold Weather, Colder Numbers In MIAC Opener
Concordia opened conference play as cold as the weather as they put up a season-low point total and lost 92-64 at #3 St. Thomas.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (12/02/15)--- A 9-0 run in the first half, a 12-0 streak in the second half and 60.0% shooting from both the floor and 3-point range led to a 28-point loss for Concordia at No.3-ranked St. Thomas.
The Cobbers were unable to overcome the two big scoreless streaks in each half and couldn't contain the red-hot Tommies in a 92-64 loss in the MIAC opener.
St. Thomas missed only 30 of their 89 total shots in the game. The Tommies went 33-for-55 from the floor, 9-for-15 from outside the arc and 17-for-19 from the free throw line. All told UST shot 66.2% from the field, 3-point land and the foul stripe combined.
Concordia's highlight of the night came in the opening minutes of play when Jordan Bolger grabbed a pair of rebounds, made a pair of jumpers and gave the Cobbers a 4-0 lead.
St. Thomas caught fire at the 17-minute mark of the first half. The Tommies went on a 16-2 streak to take a 10-point lead and then added an 11-2 run later in the period to take a 10-point lead at 41-31 at the break.
The Cobbers kept the margin around 10 points before the game-ending 12-0 run turned an 11-point margin at 63-52 to a 23-lead at 75-52 with 5:55 remaining in the second half.
Concordia had four players finish in double figures. Bolger, Tom Fraase, Isaac Anderson and Zach Kinny combined for 53 of the team's 64 points (82.8%).
Bolger was 7-for-12 from the floor and finished with 19 points. He also had a team-high eight rebounds.
Frasse was 4-for-8 from the floor, 2-for-5 from outside the arc and had 12 points. Anderson also finished with 12 points on a 6-for-9 shooting night while Kinny scored all 10 of his points in the opening period.
The Cobbers put up almost identical shooting numbers in each half. Concordia connected on 43.3% (26-for-60) of their shots from the floor for the game and made 25.0% (5-for-20) of their attempts from long range.
COLD WEATHER, COLDER NUMBERS
The 64 points scored by Concordia is a season low as are the five 3-point point field goals, seven made three throws, nine free throw attempts, 25 rebounds and five steals. The 92 points allowed is also a season high (low) for the Cobbers.
REBOUNDING NEEDS
Concordia was outrebounded 34-25 in the game marking the fourth time this season they have been outdistanced on the glass. The Cobbers have not had a player grab more than eight rebounds in a game this season.
I LIKE IKE
Isaac Anderson continued his breakout scoring season by putting up 12 points. It is the third time in the last five games he has finished in double digits on the scoreboard. Last year he only had one game where he scored more than seven points.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Cobbers will continue their brutal road start to MIAC play when they travel to Arden Hills to take on Bethel on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 1 p.m. CC then heads to Northfield to take on St. Olaf on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 5:45 p.m. The Tommies, Royals and Oles were all picked to finish in the top 4 in the MIAC in the annual preseason coaches' poll.