SEWARD, Neb. – After taking the CIT Championship title, the Concordia men’s basketball team will return to GPAC play. The Bulldogs will travel to Nebraska Wesleyan on Wednesday and to Morningside on Saturday.
GAME INFO
Concordia (15-9, 7-8 GPAC) vs Nebraska Wesleyan (14-6, 9-5 GPAC)
Wednesday, Feb. 3 | 8 p.m.
Site: Snyder Arena | Lincoln, Neb.
GAME INFO
Concordia (15-9, 7-8 GPAC) vs Morningside (10-13, 6-8 GPAC)
Saturday, Feb. 6 | 4 p.m.
Site: RVSC – Allee Gym | Sioux City, Iowa
Last time out
The Concordia’s men team has won four in a row after being named the Concordia Invitational Champions. The Bulldogs defeated Doane last week before CIT, 89-81. Concordia then went on to beat Concordia-Ann Arbor 85-65 and Concordia-Wisconsin 86-85 for the CIT title.
Quotable
“I feel like that’s a typical CIT championship. You hate to see anybody lose that game. I thought Concordia Wisconsin played unbelievable. Their kids played extremely hard. Made a lot of great shots that kept us on our heels in the second half. Kid takes that shot at the buzzer and you’re watching it in slow motion. Last year it went in. This year it didn’t.”
-Head coach Ben Limback
“Winning is way more fun. We’re gelling better. We’re playing together better. It’s been really fun. It’s turning into wins.”
-Junior Chandler Folkerts
National notes
The Bulldogs rank in over 15 statistical categories in the NAIA Division II, including sixth in total blocks (108) and field goal percentage (.499), 10th in blocks per game (4.50), 11th in free throw percentage (.747) and 12th in scoring offense (2,041).
Below is a list of individual rankings in the nation.
Chandler Folkerts – Field goal percentage, second (.662); total rebounds, 17th (196); total scoring, 20th (461); defensive rebounds per game, 32nd (6.08); points per game, 32nd (19.21); total blocks, 34th (31); total rebounds per game, 41st (8.17); blocks per game, 48th (1.30)
Jamie Pearson – free throw percentage, 32nd (.822); total scoring 41st (420); points per game, 44th (18.26)
Robby Thomas – total blocks, third (56); blocks per game, seventh (2.33); defensive rebounds per game, 49th (5.67)
GPAC grade
As a team in the conference, Concordia leads in field goal percentage defense (.426), blocks per game (4.50) and total blocks (108), ranks second in scoring margin (7.75), free throw percentage (.747), field goal percentage offense (.499), total rebound defense per game (34.08) and defensive rebounds per game (29.33) and ranks third in scoring defense per game (77.29), total rebound offense (933) and total steals (170).
Below is a list of individual rankings in the GPAC.
Chandler Folkerts – points per game, fifth (19.21); total scoring, fourth (461); field goal percentage, first (.662); total rebounds per game, fourth (8.17); total rebounds, tied for second (196); offensive rebounds per game, seventh (2.08); defensive rebounds per game, fourth (6.08); blocks per game, fourth (1.29); total blocks, third (31); double-doubles, first (10); single-game high rebounding, tied for ninth (15)
Jamie Pearson – points per game, eighth (18.26); total scoring, eighth (420); field goal percentage, tied for ninth (.495); free throw percentage, third (.822); steals per game, ninth (1.30); total steals, 10th (30); assists per game, seventh (3.52); total assists, eighth (81); single-game high scoring, tied for sixth (37) and tied for ninth twice (36)
Robby Thomas – field goal percentage, eighth (.511); total rebounds per game, 10th (6.71); total rebounds, 10th (161); defensive rebounds per game, fifth (5.67); blocks per game, first (2.33); total blocks, first (56)
Eli Ziegler – 3-point field goals made per game, ninth (2.29); 3-point field goals made, sixth (55)
Seeing double
So far this season, Concordia has had two Bulldogs record at least one double-double game, including 10 total for Chandler Folkerts.
C. Folkerts – 26 points, 13 rebounds vs Bellevue on Nov. 6
R. Thomas – 12 points, 11 rebounds vs Bellevue on Nov. 6
C. Folkerts – 11 points, 10 rebounds at Hastings on Nov. 18
R. Thomas – 13 points, 10 rebounds at Doane on No. 24
C. Folkerts – 33 points, 13 rebounds at Dordt on Dec. 18
C. Folkerts – 21 points, 15 rebounds vs Briar Cliff on Jan. 2
C. Folkerts – 24 points, 10 rebounds at Midland on Jan. 6
C. Folkerts – 34 points, 14 rebounds at Northwestern on Jan. 9
C. Folkerts – 14 points, 11 rebounds at York on Jan. 13
C. Folkerts – 23 points, 11 rebounds vs Dakota Wesleyan on Jan. 16
C. Folkerts – 27 points, 11 rebounds vs Hastings on Jan. 20
C. Folkerts – 21 points, 11 rebounds vs Concordia-Ann Arbor on Jan. 29
Scouting the Nebraska Wesleyan University Prairie Wolves
The Prairie Wolves of Nebraska Wesleyan hold a 14-6 overall mark and a 9-5 GPAC record this season. Earlier in the year, the Bulldogs lost to the Prairie Wolves on a heart breaking buzzer beater in Seward, 89-88. As a team, Nebraska Wesleyan is averaging 94.4 points and 36.6 rebounds per game. From the field, the Prairie Wolves shoot .470 and .395 from 3-point range. Trey Bardsley averages 27 points a game while teammate Travis Giesselmann averages 21.5. The Prairie Wolves are led by head coach Dale Wellman who is in his second season at Nebraska Wesleyan. Wellman is assisted by Trevor Johnson and Tyler Ackley.
Scouting the Morningside College Mustangs
The Mustangs of Morningside are currently 10-13 overall and 6-8 in the GPAC. The Mustangs will face Northwestern College on Wednesday before hosting Concordia. In the previous matchup of the teams this season, the Bulldogs came out on top in a 110-99 overtime victory. Morningside averages 81.4 points and 34.8 rebounds a contest. As a squad, the Mustangs shoot .462 from the field and .363 from behind the arc. Leading scorer, Bryce Koch, averages 15.1 points per game. The Mustangs are led by head coach Jim Sykes who is in his 12th season at Morningside. Sykes is assisted by Anthony Elias, Russ Fuchser and Trent Miller.
Up next for the Bulldogs
The Concordia men’s basketball team will host two conference contests next week. The Midland Warriors will pay a visit to Walz on Wednesday for an 8 p.m. tipoff. Then on Saturday, Feb. 13 Northwestern will come to Seward for a 4 p.m. start time.