SEWARD, Neb. – Just as everyone expected. The fourth-seeded Concordia University men’s basketball team will welcome eighth-seeded Hastings to Seward in the GPAC semifinals – riiiiiight. Wednesday night’s conference quarterfinal game marked the first time the Bulldogs had hosted a conference tournament game since 2011. Now the program will host in the GPAC semifinals for the first time since 2005. Head coach Ben Limback’s squad dominated the closing stretch in the quarters and knocked out fifth-seeded Northwestern, 74-63.
GPAC Semifinals
Saturday, Feb. 29 vs. Hastings (16-15), 4 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats | 104.9 Max Country
--Admission: $10 for adults/senior citizens, $3 for K-12; only those with NAIA passes and GPAC student ID’s will be admitted free of charge.
Concordia felt overdue for a postseason win – which hadn’t happened for the program since 2009. The season was on the line in the second half as the Red Raiders built a 45-33 lead. From that point on, Justin Wiersema (career high 22 points) and the Bulldogs outscored Northwestern, 41-18. Other double figure scorers included Brevin Sloup (16), Carter Kent (15) and Tanner Shuck (14) while Chuol Biel returned to the court and grabbed nine rebounds. Concordia won all three of this season’s meetings with the Red Raiders. Now the Bulldogs hope to go on a run like the 2004-05 squad did that captured the GPAC tournament title and advanced all the way to the NAIA Division II national championship game.
Based on the national poll released on Wednesday, Concordia (listed fourth among “receiving votes” teams) is squarely on the national tournament bubble. Based on bracket projections done by NAIA Hoops Report, the Bulldogs entered the conference tournament as the second team out of the national field. An appearance in the GPAC tournament title game may be enough to secure an at-large berth, but the only way to guarantee a spot at nationals is by winning the conference tournament. Using the current polls, Concordia owns wins over two top 25 opponents, No. 16 Menlo College (NAIA Division I) and No. 19 Dordt, in addition to the three victories over Northwestern (receiving votes).
Hastings was the shock of the GPAC quarterfinal round. The Broncos delivered second-ranked Morningside its first home loss of the entire season in an 84-80 final. Mason Hiemstra led the way by pouring in 24 points. Head coach Bill Gavers’ squad has been a hard one to figure out. Over its last 12 games, Hastings has had separate win streaks of four and three with a five-game losing streak sandwiched in between. The Broncos also knocked off then ninth-ranked Dakota Wesleyan to end the regular season. Star Bart Hiscock (20.2 ppg) and his teammates will try to end an eight-game series losing streak against the Bulldogs.
On the other side of the GPAC bracket, sixth-seeded Mount Marty will be at second-seeded Dakota Wesleyan. The semifinal winners will play in the championship game on Tuesday (March 3). Concordia would host that contest if it can win and have Mount Marty defeat Dakota Wesleyan.
Projected Lineups
Concordia (22-9, 12-8 GPAC)
G – Brevin Sloup, Sr., 5-9 (16.2)
G – Justin Wiersema, So., 6-3 (10.7)
G – Carter Kent, So., 6-2 (12.7)
F – Tanner Shuck, Sr., 6-4 (12.9)
F – Chuol Biel, Sr., 6-8 (5.6)
Hastings (16-15, 8-12 GPAC)
G – Logan Cale, Sr., 6-0 (8.4)
G – Mason Hiemstra, Fr., 6-0 (10.6)
F – Brendan Lipovsky, Sr., 6-4 (11.7)
F – Zach Kitten, Sr., 6-5 (8.5)
F – Bart Hiscock, Sr., 6-6 (20.2)
2020 GPAC Men’s Basketball Tournament
GPAC Quarterfinals – Wednesday, Feb. 26
(8) Hastings def. (1) Morningside, 84-80
(4) Concordia def. (5) Northwestern, 74-63
(6) Mount Marty def. (3) Dordt, 75-74
(2) Dakota Wesleyan def. (7) Jamestown, 90-75
GPAC Semifinals – Saturday, Feb. 29
(8) Hastings at (4) Concordia, 4 p.m.
(6) Mount Marty at (2) Dakota Wesleyan, 3 p.m.
GPAC Championship – Tuesday, March 3
Time TBA