Scoreboard Numbers Add Up To Victory
Concordia went on a 14-0 run midway through the first half, held a double-digit lead for the final 30 minutes of play and beat Hamline 81-66.
MOORHEAD, Minn. (1/11/16)— Concordia was outshot and outrebounded against Hamline but it was the Cobbers who held a double-digit lead for 30 minutes in their 81-66 win over the Pipers.
The key in the game came from Concordia's ability to get inside looks on offense on a consistent basis and being able to pressure Hamline into turnovers on the defensive end.
The win is the second straight for Concordia and fourth in the past five games. The Cobbers are now over .500 for the first time since the start of December as they move to 7-6 on the season. CC is 4-4 in league games and moves up into sixth in the conference standings.
Concordia scored eight of the first 10 points in the game but then Hamline rallied to tie the game at 12-12. That's when they game turned in favor of the Cobbers. Concordia went on a 14-0 run in the next 5:26 to take a 26-12 lead.
After the 14-0 run the Cobbers would never relinquish the double-digit lead. Concordia extended the lead to 20 points in the final three minutes of the opening period and then took a 40-23 lead into the second half.
Hamline (3-9/1-6 MIAC) would repeatedly try to make a run at Concordia in the final 20 minutes of play but each time the Cobbers were able to get the ball inside and score on layups.
The Pipers wound up shooting 72.7% (16-for-22) in the second half but only outscored the Cobbers by two points.
Hamline cut the lead down to 11 points midway through the second half but then a pair of free throws by Guilherme Saad, a dunk by senior Isaac Anderson and then 3-pointers by Brett Bergeson and Tom Fraase pushed the lead to 21 points at 67-46.
Concordia finished the game by shooting 54.9% (28-for-51) for the game. That was just shy of the 56.8% (25-for-44) mark shot by Hamline.
The Pipers also had 26 rebounds as compared to 25 for the Cobbers.
Concordia forced 12 Hamline turnovers and only had five miscues on the offensive end.
23 FOR 23
Senior Jordan Bolger scored 23 points for the third time in the last four games. He has now scored at least 20 points in five of the past six games and in seven of the 11 games he has played this season. Bolger is now averaging 18.7 points per game and leads the MIAC in scoring.
AND HE IS PRETTY GOOD ON THE GLASS
Bolger added a game-high 11 rebounds to go along with his 23 points. It is his fourth double-double of the year. Bolger is now averaging 8.2 rebounds per game which is tied for second best in the conference. He is now averaging 18.9 points and 9.1 rebounds in conference play.
3-GOGGLES
The Cobbers connected on seven 3-pointers against the Pipers. They have now made at least seven long-range shots in four of the last five games. During that stretch Concordia is 41-for-87 (47.1%). CC currently is tied for the lead in the MIAC in 3-pointers made in conference play (58).
NO FREEZIE FOR FRAASE
Lost in the 23-point, 11-rebound performance from Bolger was a 22-point outing for senior guard Tom Fraase. He was 4-for-7 from outside the arc and 6-for-6 from the free throw line. The 22 points ties a season high for Fraase and he has now scored in double figures in four of the past five games.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Concordia will hit the road for a pair of games against teams below them in the conference standings. The Cobbers will play at St. Mary's on Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. and then head to St. Paul on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. game at Macalester. The Cardinals have lost five straight but are 3-2 at home while the Scots have lost three straight and are also 3-2 at home.
