SEWARD, Neb. – The fortunes of the Concordia University men’s basketball team have reversed. The Bulldogs are soaring with confidence while riding a four-game win streak into another pivotal week of conference play. Since Christmas, head coach Ben Limback’s squad has shot nearly 45 percent from 3-point range while claiming wins over Peru State College, No. 19 Northwestern and Dordt. Up next are games with Hastings and Jamestown.
This Week
Wednesday, Jan. 8 at Hastings (9-9, 2-6 GPAC), 8 p.m.
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Saturday, Jan. 11 vs. Jamestown (11-6, 3-5 GPAC), 4 p.m.
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The four-game win streak has come immediately on the heels of a four-game losing streak. While Concordia has been mostly solid on the defensive end (currently third in the GPAC in field goal percentage defense), the offense has caught fire of late. The takeoff of Carter Kent’s game has had plenty to do with the increased offensive output. Kent has been dynamite in 2020 having scored 25 points in back-to-back games. Last week he went 15-for-24 (.625) from the field, 8-for-13 (.615) from 3-point range and 12-for-14 (.857) from the free throw line.
The three-ball has been fluttering through the net. In the victory over Dordt, the Bulldogs erased a 10-point deficit by draining 10 3-point field goals in the second half. Over the past three games, Concordia has knocked in 16, 14 and 13 treys, respectively, for a combined total of 43. It was a welcome sight to see senior Tanner Shuck heat back up over the weekend. He put up 17 points while going 3-for-7 from beyond the arc against the Defenders. Off the bench, 6-foot-5 sophomore Gage Smith has been coming on strong. He has averaged 11.0 points and 6.0 rebounds over the last three games.
Shuck’s career point total now stands at 1,307, which places him No. 16 on the program’s all-time list. Senior Brevin Sloup is on track to become the program’s next 1,000-point scorer. He’s pushed his total to 944 after putting home 16 versus Dordt. It was a nice response to the 1-for-10 shooting performance Sloup had at Northwestern. His teammates picked him up – and then some. Now the team’s leading scorer at 14.8 points per game, Kent has already racked up 559 points in his first 47 collegiate games.
Hastings picked up a much-needed win over the weekend by topping Jamestown, 79-65. That result snapped a six-game losing streak within conference play. Head coach Bill Gavers is in his seventh season as head coach at his alma mater, which last reached the national tournament in 2010. Senior Bart Hiscock is one of the GPAC’s most productive players and is averaging 22.2 points and 8.4 rebounds. Concordia and Hastings played at each other’s early-season classics and thus, have seen a lot of each other despite this being the season’s first meeting.
Jamestown enjoyed a nice run last season, its first as a member of the GPAC. The Jimmies placed second in the GPAC regular-season standings and then won the conference tournament title. Head coach Danny Neville’s program graduated top scorers Kevin Oberweiser and Jon Purintun from last season’s squad. Jamestown remains a solid offensive team that averaged 87.9 points and shoots 37.6 percent from 3-point range. This year’s leading scorer is senior guard Terrell Alfred (16.6). The Jimmies won both of last season’s meetings with the Bulldogs.
Following this week, Concordia will have a mid-week bye before returning to action Jan. 18 at Briar Cliff.
Projected Lineups
Concordia (11-5, 4-4 GPAC)
G – Brevin Sloup, Sr., 5-9 (14.5)
G – Justin Wiersema, So., 6-3 (8.8)
G – Carter Kent, So., 6-2 (14.8)
F – Tanner Shuck, Sr., 6-4 (11.5)
F – Chuol Biel, Sr., 6-8 (6.0)
Hastings (9-9, 2-6 GPAC)
G – Logan Cale, Sr., 6-0 (8.6)
G – Mason Hiemstra, Fr., 6-0 (7.6)
F – Zach Kitten, Sr., 6-5 (8.5)
F – Shane Chamberlain, So., 6-6 (7.5)
F – Bart Hiscock, Sr., 6-6 (22.2)
Jamestown (11-6, 3-5 GPAC)
G – Marc Kjos, Fr., 5-9
G – Terrell Alfred, Sr., 6-0
G – Jack Frazier, Sr., 6-3
F – Brady Birch, Jr., 6-6
F – Brock Schrom, Jr., 6-8