SEWARD, Neb. – Following a weekend stay at the 68th annual Concordia Invitational Tournament, the Concordia University men’s basketball team has returned home, ready to resume conference play. The Bulldogs will try to keep things rolling inside Walz Arena when Dordt makes a visit on Wednesday. Concordia will have an opportunity to avenge losses earlier this season in both of this week’s outings.
This Week
Wednesday, Jan. 30 vs. Dordt (15-9, 7-7), 8 p.m.
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Feb. 2 at Northwestern (14-10, 8-7), 4 p.m.
-Webcast: Stretch Internet
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad went through a stretch of three games in four days last week. The Bulldogs notched victories over Doane, 70-53, and Concordia University, Chicago, 77-69. Sandwiched in between the two wins was an 86-70 loss at the hands of CIT champion Concordia University, Wisconsin. That defeat prevented CUNE from extending its CIT record of 27 championships in program history. After putting up 24 points versus CUW and 21 versus CUC, junior point guard Brevin Sloup was named to the CIT All-Tournament Team.
Sloup and company have played especially well at home of late. During the current run of four wins over their past five GPAC contests, the Bulldogs have won all three home games with each of them decided by double digit margins: 102-92 over No. 7 Briar Cliff, 66-51 over Midland and 70-53 over Doane. In the second half of those three games, Concordia has outscored its opponents in the second half, on average, 43.7 to 30.7. The Bulldogs are in the midst of a unique 12-game period during which nine have been decided by margins of 10 or more. Concordia is trying to improve upon a 1-6 GPAC road record.
The Seward High School product Sloup has been the team’s most consistent offensive performer. He now tops all GPAC players in free throw percentage (.867) while leading the team in scoring average (16.7). The Bulldogs are tough to beat when Carter Kent, Tanner Shuck and Sloup are clicking like they were versus Concordia-Chicago when they combined for 59 points. Though not counted upon as a prolific scorer, Chuol Biel has been a big addition in the post. He supplied one of last week’s biggest highlights when he blocked a shot and then promptly scored on the other end against Doane. He tops the GPAC in blocks per game (1.68).
Dordt ran away with a 91-73 win over Concordia in the first matchup that took place in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Jan. 2. The Defenders have been solid in their first season with Brian Van Haaften serving as head coach. It’s been an up-and-down run within conference play. Dordt has alternated wins and losses in GPAC action since New Year’s Day. Led by Garrett Franken, the Defenders have been a stellar rebounding team (20th nationally with a +6.5 rebound margin). The balanced team boasts six players averaging in double figures.
Northwestern had won five games in a row before losing two of its past three contests. That stretch included a surprisingly lopsided 72-49 loss at Doane over the weekend. Head coach Kris Korver’s squad has done a nice job of remaining competitive despite losing two of the GPAC’s top players to graduation after last season. The new star scorer is guard Trent Hilbrands, who is averaging 18.7 points per game. He recorded 14 points in a 76-59 Red Raider win in Seward on Jan. 5. Northwestern won at Dordt last week, 89-80.
Projected lineups
(Scoring average in parentheses)
Concordia (13-12, 5-10 GPAC)
G – Brevin Sloup, Jr., 5-9 (16.7)
G – Carter Kent, Fr., 6-2 (9.8)
G – Tanner Shuck, Jr., 6-4 (14.4)
G – Justin Wiersema, Fr., 6-3 (5.8)
F – Chuol Biel, Jr., 6-8 (7.1)
Dordt (15-9, 7-7 GPAC)
G – Ben Gesink, So., 6-3 (7.5)
G – Alec Henrickson, Sr., 6-2 (11.0)
F – Chad Barkema, Jr., 6-5 (12.3)
F – Garrett Franken, So., 6-7 (13.1)
F – Josh Van Lingen, Jr., 6-6 (10.5)
Northwestern (14-10, 8-7 GPAC)
G – Isaac Heyer, So., 6-3 (5.5)
G – Trent Hilbrands, So., 6-0 (18.7)
G – Parker Mulder, Sr., 6-2 (10.6)
G – Jay Small, So., 6-2 (14.4)
F – Steven Kragt, Sr., 6-7 (10.3)