SEWARD, Neb. – Following a weekend off from competition, Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Basketball returns to action for a pair of home games this week. For the first time in 2025-26, the Bulldogs will play a game with a national ranking attached to their name. Riding a five-game winning streak, Concordia landed at No. 24 in the NAIA Coaches’ Poll released on Nov. 26. Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad has started 3-0 in league play (6-2 overall). That unbeaten record will be put to the test this week by Doane and Dakota Wesleyan.
This Week
Wednesday, Dec. 3 vs. Doane (5-4, 1-2 GPAC), 7:45 p.m.
--104.9 Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
Saturday, Dec. 6 vs. Dakota Wesleyan (5-4, 2-2 GPAC), 3:45 p.m.
--104.9 Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· The winning streak impressed the voters enough for the Bulldogs to go from not receiving any votes on Nov. 12 to ranked No. 24 on Nov. 26. The most significant win during that stretch from a rankings perspective was the 78-73 victory at then third-ranked Northwestern on Nov. 22. A pair of league defeats dropped the Red Raiders 13 spots to No. 16 in the latest poll. This marks the fifth straight season that Limback’s program has appeared inside the NAIA top 25. Three of the past four Concordia squads have finished their seasons with national rankings. The 2024-25 team rose as high as No. 9 in the poll, the highest ranking for the program since checking in at No. 6 in 2005-06 (during the era of two NAIA divisions).
· By the time Wednesday’s contest tips off, the Bulldogs will have had seven straight days without a game. Most recently (Nov. 25), Concordia ventured to Yankton, S.D., and emerged an 84-75 winner over Mount Marty. The Bulldogs won behind four double-figure scorers: Brooks Kissinger (20), Jaxon Stueve (18), Tate Odvody (13) and Dane Jacobsen (10). In addition, Logan Wilson grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds while adding four points, three assists and two steals. Off the bench Garret Johnson drained three treys and Zac Kulus returned from injury to supply eight points. Concordia shot 47.3 percent (26-for-55) from the field compared to 44.6 percent (29-for-65) shooting by the Lancers (3-6, 2-2 GPAC). The Bulldogs committed only six turnovers.
· The Ashland, Neb., native Kissinger keeps stacking stellar performances while rising to the top of the opposition’s scouting report. Kissinger missed the season opener at Graceland University (Iowa) and then played only eight minutes in game No. 2. Since then, Kissinger has posted respective point totals of 17, 31, 18, 22, 21 and 20 points (not including the 26 he scored in the exhibition at NCAA Division I University of Nebraska Omaha). His career-high 31 points came in the Cattle Classic win over Oklahoma City University. On the season, Kissinger is averaging 18.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 61.8 percent from the floor. With an increased role, Kissinger has tripled the scoring average he posted (6.2) as a sophomore in 2024-25.
· The 3-0 start to league play is a reversal of the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons when the Bulldogs opened at 0-2 in GPAC games. Concordia is 3-0 to begin GPAC play for the first time since the 2022-23 campaign. The Bulldogs have started hot and have soared into the national rankings while reinventing themselves this season behind a backcourt led by Kissinger and Jacobsen. The starting lineup for each of the five games during the win streak has included Kissinger and Jacobsen in addition to Odvody, Stueve and Wilson. With a more guard-oriented lineup, Concordia figures to shoot regularly from beyond the arc. So far this season, the Bulldogs have made 88-of-236 (.373) attempts from 3-point range compared to their opponents, who have gone 61-for-214 (.285) from the perimeter. Concordia netted a school record 23 triples in the 107-68 thrashing of Clarke University (Iowa) on Nov. 8.
· The Bulldogs hope to be at full strength as early as this week. Senior guard Zac Kulus recently missed two games and junior guard Hayden Frank has yet to make his season debut due to an injury. The Malcolm, Neb., native Frank averaged 6.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game last season as a sophomore. His return will add more depth to an already strong backcourt. Other guards who have seen action include senior MJ Coffey and freshman Jacob Duitsman.
· Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, it was a lighter week than usual around the GPAC. One particularly noteworthy nonconference win was achieved over the weekend by Northwestern as it blew out eighth-ranked Ave Maria University (Fla.), 105-77, in Kingsport, Tenn. In the early conference standings, Briar Cliff and Concordia are tied for first at 3-0 with Morningside close behind at 3-1. Every GPAC team has claimed at least one conference victory with the exception of Waldorf (0-3). This week will see a return to Wednesday-Saturday GPAC action.
Concordia Projected Starting Five
G – Dane Jacobsen, 6-3 (13.3)
G – Brooks Kissinger, 6-3 (18.9)
G – Jaxon Stueve, 6-4 (11.8)
F – Tate Odvody, 6-4 (10.8)
F – Logan Wilson, 6-7 (7.9)
The opponents
Doane reshaped its roster after finishing the 2024-25 season at 9-19 overall (4-16 GPAC). There are three newcomers in the starting lineup, including freshmen guards Trevon Beckman and Justus Gardiner, both Nebraska natives. Head Coach Ian McKeithen is in his 10th season leading the program. His best season occurred in 2021-22 when Doane went 19-13 (11-9 GPAC) while falling just short of a national tournament bid. The signature moment so far this season for the Tigers came on Nov. 15 when they upset No. 3 Northwestern, 75-71, in Crete. Conference losses to Hastings, 64-62 at home, and to Briar Cliff, 81-60 on the road, followed the upset. The team’s leading scorer is 6-foot-6 forward Jack Wilson, who is averaging 15.2 points per game. As a team, Doane is averaging 75.7 points while shooting 49.9 percent from the floor. Its opponents are averaging 70.9 points while shooting 44.1 percent. Each of the past seven Concordia-Doane meetings have been won by the Bulldogs.
Doane Projected Starting Five
G – Trevon Beckman, 6-1 (12.9)
G – Casen Chaney, 6-1 (14.1)
G/F – Justus Gardiner, 6-5 (12.0)
F – Jonan Claussen, 6-6 (9.4)
F – Jack Wilson, 6-6 (15.2)
Head Coach: Ian McKeithen, 10th season
This past offseason, Sam Nicholson was elevated from an assistant to head coach. Nicholson replaces Kevin Williamson, now the head coach at Dakota State University. Dakota Wesleyan is coming off a 2024-25 season that concluded with a 20-10 overall record (13-7 GPAC) and a loss in the first round of the national tournament. Picked seventh in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll, the Tigers returned Honorable Mention All-GPAC guard Randy Rosenquist Jr., who is averaging a team high 15.1 points per game. DWU has started 2-2 in league play with wins over Hastings and Midland and losses to Morningside and Briar Cliff. The starting five includes four holdovers and freshman guard Easton Neuendorf, the team’s third leading scorer (14.1) behind Rosenquist Jr. and Steele Morgan (14.8). As a team, the Tigers are averaging 77.9 points per game while shooting 45.6 percent from the field. Their opponents are averaging 76.6 points while shooting 50.8 percent. Concordia has won each of the previous four matchups with DWU.
Dakota Wesleyan Projected Starting Five
G – Easton Neuendorf, 5-11 (14.1)
G – Randy Rosenquist Jr., 6-0 (15.1)
G – Tyson Stevenson, 6-2 (11.0)
F – Steele Morgan, 6-4 (14.8)
F – Anthony Riggans, 6-5 (12.0)
Head Coach: Sam Nicholson, 1st season
Next week
After two at home in league play, the Bulldogs will be back on the road next week for matchups with Midland (Dec. 10) and Dordt (Dec. 13). League play will then halt until after New Year’s Day.