SEWARD, Neb. – Perhaps the most anticipated road trip of the entire season is up next for the Concordia University men’s basketball team. The Bulldogs hope an extended break will help them put behind a three-game skid. Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad will fly out to Phoenix, Ariz., the day after Christmas for a pair of nonconference games.
Arizona Christian Holiday Classic
Friday, Dec. 28 vs. No. 12 Arizona Christian University (11-1), 3 p.m. MST / 4 p.m. CST
Saturday, Dec. 29 vs. MacEwan University (0-12), 12 p.m. MST / 1 p.m. CST
Both games at the holiday event will be streamed live via Stretch Internet at a cost of $7.95 per game. In addition, Concordia play-by-play voice Tyler Cavalli will be live from Fultz Memorial Gymnasium in Phoenix to call the action on 104.9 Max Country.
The Bulldogs (7-7, 1-7 GPAC) are looking to hit the reset button after a blowout loss at No. 18 Dakota Wesleyan in their most recent outing on Dec. 15. While Concordia has dropped five GPAC games in a row, it has yet to slip up in nonconference play. The résumé includes a road victory over Peru State College, which is currently ranked 17th at the NAIA Division I level. In non-league games, the Bulldogs are outscoring their opponents, on average, 82.0 to 65.2. Conversely, conference foes have outnumbered Concordia, 79.6 to 67.0.
An offensive resurgence could be the recipe for halting the losing streak. The Bulldogs have been at their best when juniors Tanner Shuck and Brevin Sloup have knocked down shots. Shuck is bound to shake out of a slump that has seen him go 9-for-35 (.257) from the floor over the past three games. Shuck and Sloup are the team’s leading scorers with points-per-game averages of 16.1 and 15.4, respectively. As a team, Concordia sports GPAC rankings of 10th in field goal percentage offense (.450) and ninth in scoring offense (73.4).
The scoring options behind Shuck and Sloup have been a work in progress. Freshman Carter Kent has shown plenty of promise. The Crete High School product was the team’s most effective weapon at Dakota Wesleyan. He poured in 15 points on 6-for-14 shooting from the floor. In the post, Chuol Biel (1.57 blocks/game) has been a nice addition defensively. Prior to their struggles at the Corn Palace, the Bulldogs had played solid defensively. They currently rank fifth in the GPAC in field goal percentage defense (.447).
Arizona Christian will carry a sparkling 11-1 record into next Friday’s clash. Its only loss came by a 100-93 score at the hands of The Master’s University (Calif.), which was ranked second in the most recent NAIA Division I coaches’ poll. The Firestorm checked in at No. 12 in the same poll. Head coach Jeff Rutter’s squad can light up a scoreboard. It averages 99.1 points per game and is shooting 43.2 percent from 3-point range. Junior guard Terence Shelby Jr. (20.7 ppg) enjoyed a 26-point, 10-rebound performance in his team’s 91-88 win over Briar Cliff on Wednesday.
MacEwan has yet to win a game this season while going up against competition completely unfamiliar to Concordia. The Griffins compete as a member of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association. They have experienced offensive struggles of their own having shot just 37.2 percent from the floor through their first 12 games of the 2018-19 season. Jake Notice paces the squad with an average of 16.9 points per game.
Concordia will resume conference play after returning from The Grand Canyon State. The Bulldogs will be at Dordt on Wednesday, Jan. 2.
Projected lineups
(Scoring average in parentheses)
Concordia (7-7)
G – Brevin Sloup, Jr., 5-9 (15.4)
G – Carter Kent, Fr., 6-2 (8.9)
F – Tanner Shuck, Jr., 6-4 (16.1)
F – Chuol Biel, Jr. 6-8 (7.4)
F – Ryan Holt, So., 6-5 (6.0)
Arizona Christian (11-1)
G – Emilio Acedo, Sr., 6-4 (9.9)
G – Shane Carney, Jr., 5-9 (17.5)
G – Terence Shelby, Jr., 6-3 (20.7)
F – Al Burge, Jr., 6-4 (7.9)
F – Callum Lawson, Sr., 6-6 (20.2)
MacEwan (0-12)
G – Deonte Doslov-Doctor, Sr., 6-0 (7.4)
G – Dustin Gatzki, Jr., 6-4 (7.4)
G – Jake Notice, Jr., 6-4 (16.9)
F – Abdullah Shittu, So., 6-6 (8.3)
F – Atlas St. Paul-Butler, Sr., 6-6 (8.3)