VIDEO: Bulldogs sink 13 treys in blowout home win
SEWARD, Neb. – In making its first home appearance since Dec. 11, the Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Basketball team shot better than 65 percent in the first half and led by as many as 37 points in a Saturday (Dec. 28) whitewashing of visiting MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.). Five Bulldogs reached double figures in scoring in what amounted to an 89-55 win. The result moved Concordia to 7-1 at home on the season.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad also jumped to 9-4 overall in its final outing of the calendar year 2024. The Bulldogs have routed back-to-back nonconference foes.
“When you shoot like that and have things going offensively like that, and Noah (Schutte) and Tristan (Smith) are seeing doubles and making the right reads, we have guys that can score,” Limback said. “I thought the team offense was a great thing today. Our first shot defense was good – we weren’t very tough on the glass. We know what we have to continue to get better at it, but these are not easy games. We showed up and did a good job today.”
While the Pioneers of Olathe, Kan., have slumped to a 5-9 record, they are a historically strong NAIA program coming off a 25-6 record in 2023-24. MNU hung within three (20-17) of Concordia with fewer than eight minutes remaining in the first half. That’s when the Bulldogs put together a game-defining 16-0 run that gave them complete control for the remainder of the afternoon. During the spurt, Brad Bennett canned two of his four treys while Hayden Frank curled home one of his own and Schutte struck for a three-point play.
The contest was essentially decided by halftime when Concordia owned a 45-21 lead on the strength of 65.4 percent (17-for-26) shooting from the floor. The Bulldogs drained seven of their first 11 tries from long range and finished 13-for-24 from the perimeter. Late in the action, junior Logan Wilson made efficient use of his seven minutes with 11 points (and four rebounds) on 4-for-4 shooting. Wilson sank all three of his 3-point attempts and then did the honors of ringing The Victory Bell.
Said Limback, “Logan was outstanding. It’s not easy to come in late in the game. He hit a couple 3s in rhythm and had some good rebounds for us. He’s got the ability. Brad caught fire again. It’s fun to play when everybody’s sharing, the ball’s moving and everybody off the bench does what they’re supposed to do. I think our opponent is better than what they showed, and I think this will prove to be a pretty good win for us.”
Balance was a theme as five Concordia players finished in the range of 10-12 points: Bennett (12), Schutte (12), Jaxon Stueve (11), Wilson (11) and Smith (10). Brooks Kissinger also supplied eight points off the bench. In addition, Schutte paced the team with seven rebounds, Smith dropped five dimes and Stueve plucked four of the Bulldogs’ 13 steals. Of its 32 made baskets, 24 were assisted. Concordia shot 60.4 percent (32-for-53) overall.
Meanwhile, MNU shot only 30.9 percent (21-for-68) from the floor. The Pioneers actually had more cracks at the basket than the Bulldogs did thanks to their 18 offensive rebounds (39-33 overall rebound advantage). Malachi Bryant poured in a team high 12 points and Caden Kaberline corralled six offensive boards for the Heart of America Athletic Conference member. The Bulldogs effectively avenged their December 2019 loss to MNU – a 65-60 decision in Honolulu, Hawaii.
GPAC play will resume as the calendar flips to 2025. In action this coming Thursday, the Bulldogs will play Dakota Wesleyan (10-3, 4-2 GPAC) with tipoff scheduled for 7:45 p.m. CT from the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D. Concordia swept the two 2023-24 regular season meetings from the Tigers, who are now led by Head Coach Kevin Williamson.