Slow Starts Stymie Cobbers In MIAC Playoff Opener
Concordia couldn't overcome slow starts in each half and lost 82-63 at Bethel in the first round of the MIAC playoffs.
ARDEN HILLS, Minn. (02/19/22)---The start of each half was unkind to the Cobbers in their first playoff game since 2016. Concordia was outscored 15-2 in the first 4:10 of the opening period, and then fell into a 34-16 hole in the first half of the second period and lost 82-63 at No.7-seed Bethel.
Those two stretches overshadowed the play of the young Cobbers who outscored the Royals 24-17 in the final 15:50 of the first half to cut the margin to six points at 32-26. CC cut the lead to only two points with 2:15 left in the half before BU connected on a pair of layups to push the lead to six.
Cobber freshman Dylan Inniger led all players in the game as he went 9-for-19 from the floor and 4-for-8 from distance to finish with 24 points.
Concordia (5-17) finished the game by shooting 41.1% (23-for-56) from the field, 36.4% (8-for-22) from outside the arc and 90.0% (9-for-10) from the foul stripe.
Bethel (12-12) won the game with their ability to get the ball inside and go to the glass. The Royals outscored CC 46-28 in points in the paint and held a 33-23 advantage in rebounds. BU also hauled down 11 offensive boards which led to an 18-2 advantage in second-chance points.
Bethel shot 55.6% (35-for-63) from the floor, 43.5% (10-for-23) from 3-point range. The Royals only attempted three free throws in the game – and made two.
Fellow first-year player Rowan Nelson hauled down a team-high seven rebounds. He also scored 10 points to record his 21st double-digit scoring game of the year.
Junior Jackson Jangula went 5-for-10 from the floor and finished with 15 points. It was his third double-digit scoring game in the last five contests.