January 22, 2025
40-Minute Team Effort Earns A Key MIAC Win
It was just what the doctor ordered. Concordia came into its midweek match-up with Macalester on a 2-game losing slide and needed to play a complete game to get back on the winning track. They got a total team effort for 40 minutes of play, outscored the Scots in both halves and walked out of the gym with a 71-56 win.
MOORHEAD, Minn. (1/22/25)---It was just what the doctor ordered. Concordia came into its midweek match-up with Macalester on a 2-game losing slide and needed to play a complete game to get back on the winning track. They got a total team effort for 40 minutes of play, outscored the Scots in both halves and walked out of the gym with a 71-56 win.
The victory keeps the Cobbers in the thick of the 6-team playoff race in the MIAC. The Cobbers are now 7-10 overall and 3-5 in league play. They are a tie for seventh place – only one game behind a 2-way tie for fifth place.
Concordia led for almost the entire game on Wednesday. Macalester hit the first basket of the game to take a 3-0 lead but a pair of free throws by Jackson Loge and a made jumper by Kaden Pieper gave CC a 4-3 lead with 17:32 left to play in the first half. The Cobbers never relinquished the lead after that point, held a 9-point halftime lead and at one point in the second half took a 15-point advantage.
The Cobbers finished the game by having three starters post at least 14 points and were able to take advantage of their size to record a 42-28 advantage in rebounds. The superior play also led to Concordia being able to get to the free throw line on a regular basis. The Cobbers went 19-for-24 (79.2%) from the foul stripe in the second half alone and finished the game by converting on 22 of their 28 free throw chances. By comparison, Macalester was only 5-for-10 from the foul line for the game.
Concordia finished the game by shooting 38.2% (21-for-55) from the floor and 22.6% (7-for-31) from outside the arc.
Senior Rowan Nelson paced the Cobbers by recording his first double-double of the season. He scored 20 points and hauled down a season-high 10 rebounds. He was 9-for-12 from the foul line.
Junior guard Peyton Belka made a trio of 3-point shots and finished with 15 points, while Loge was a perfect 6-for-6 from the foul line and added 14 points and nine rebounds.
Pieper finished with seven rebounds, four assists and four points.
Concordia will stay at home and face league-leading Gustavus on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 3 p.m.
CONCORDIA vs. MACALESTER HIGHLIGHTS
CONCORDIA vs. MACALESTER HIGHLIGHTS