Ringing Out 2016 In Style

MOORHEAD, Minn. (12/30/16)--- Dylan Alderman knocked down a pair of free throws with 6-seconds left in regulation in Concordia's year-ending game with Valley City State  to tie the score at 83-83 and send the game into overtime. The Cobbers would then get clutch 3-pointers from Austin Nelson and Dawson Peterson in the extra period and beat the Vikings 99-96.

The victory is the third straight for Concordia who ups its overall record to 5-3 on the year. Valley City falls for the second straight game and is now 11-8.

Concordia started slowly and it looked like the Cobbers would fall flat in the final game of the 2016 calendar year. The Cobbers trailed the Vikings by 14 midway through the first half and couldn't stop VCSU from getting to the basket.

That's when the Concordia defense stepped up, Alderman took full control of the offense and the Cobbers slowly got back into the game.  CC went on a 13-6 run in the final 4:30 of the first half and trailed by only three at 45-42 at the break.

Peterson hit a 3-pointer to start the second half and then Austin Heins drilled a jumper in the lane to give Concordia its first lead of the game at 47-46 with 18:53 to play.

Valley City would then go on a 9-0 streak to take an eight-point lead at 57-49 with 15:09 left in the second half. The Vikings extended the margin to 10 points before the Cobbers were able to respond. Once again Concordia relied on its defense to get stops and the offense to cut down a double-digit deficit.

Alderman got to the basket for two straight lay-ups and then freshman Andrew Holen, who was playing in his first collegiate game, canned a 3-pointer from the corner to get CC within four at 66-62.

The Cobbers would regain the lead with 8:16 to play when Alderman converted an "and 1" from the free throw line. There would be three more tie scores and the teams would change leads five times in the final 8:00 of play.

Concordia trailed 83-81 with under30-seconds left to play when VCSU missed a 3-pointer. Peterson grabbed the rebound, kicked it out to Alderman who drove the floor and was fouled going to the basket with 6-seconds on the clock. He made both foul shots to tie the game at 83-83.

The Vikings had a chance for a game-winning shot but they were never able to get up a shot after the ball was knocked loose in frontcourt.

Concordia trailed only once in the high-scoring overtime period. The Cobbers took a 2-point lead on a Nelson jumper and then the Vikings nailed a shot from outside the arc to take their final lead of the game at 86-85 with 3:43 left to play.

The Cobbers would then score on their final seven possessions of OT to grab the win. Nelson and Peterson's 3-pointers gave CC a 7-point lead with 37-seconds remaining and then two made free throws down the stretch sealed the final score.

Concordia was 6-for-7 (85.7%) from the floor in the overtime period. They were also 2-for-3 from outside the arc in the extra 5-minute session.

The Cobbers shot 52.9% (36-for-68) from the floor and 36.8% (7-for-19) from 3-point range while the Vikings shot 53.1% (34-for-64) from the field and 41.7% (10-for-24) from long range.

The Cobbers did the majority of its damage from around the basket. Alderman led the charge as he was 8-for-9 from the floor with most of his field goals coming from drives to the basket. Concordia outscored Valley City 50-28 in points in the paint. 

Alderman finished with a team-high 27 points and also added seven rebounds and six assists.

Valley City junior Jayden Ferguson led all players with 36 points and went 13-for-20 from the floor and 9-for-10 from the free throw line. The 36 points is the most by a Cobber opponent since last year when Gustavus' Gary Cooper had 39 in an OT contest.  

HE LIKES BONUS BASKETBALL: Dylan Alderman's team-high 27 points tied his career high. He also had 27 points in the Cobbers' overtime win over Gustavus last season. Alderman's seven rebounds and six assists are season highs.

AWESOME AUSTINS: Austin Heins and Austin Nelson combined for 32 points. Throw in a made 3-pointer from Austin Rund and the Austin trio scored 35 of the team's 99 points. The 20 points by Heins is a career high. His previous top total in a single game was 14 points.

DAUNTING DAWSON: Dawson Peterson finished with 11 points and had a team-high nine rebounds. The nine boards is a career high and he has now grabbed 17 rebounds in the last two games.  

NO MORE NON-CONFERENCE: The Cobbers finished the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 3-2 record. CC lost two of its first three non-league games but then posted wins against St. Scholastica and Valley City to cap the non-conference slate.              

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will now concentrate on the MIAC. The Cobbers will start its conference trek when they play at Augsburg on Monday, Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. The Auggies are 4-4 overall and 2-1 in MIAC play.