SEWARD, Neb. – The GPAC win streak grew to seven last week as the Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Basketball team earned a pair of road wins – 81-60 at Doane and 84-80 at Briar Cliff in overtime. The mid-season surge has vaulted Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad into third place in the GPAC standings with an 8-3 league mark (13-4 overall). As part of the win at Doane, Noah Schutte grabbed headlines while rising to the top of the program’s all-time scoring list. Schutte and company will be back in front of the home fans this week as they host Mount Marty on Wednesday and seventh-ranked Northwestern on Saturday.
This Week
Wednesday, Jan. 15 vs. Mount Marty (7-9, 4-6 GPAC), 7:45 p.m.
--104.9 Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
Saturday, Jan. 18 vs. No. 7 Northwestern (17-0, 9-0 GPAC), 3:45 p.m.
--104.9 Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· The Bulldogs have stated a compelling case for inclusion in the NAIA coaches’ poll scheduled to be released on Wednesday. Concordia rose all the way to No. 9 in the Nov. 13 national poll (for the highest ranking during Limback’s tenure). The Bulldogs then dropped from the rankings after slipping up in three of four games in November. Since Dec. 7, Concordia is 9-1 and handed No. 11 Dordt its only defeat so far in 2024-25. In the official NAIA RPI released last week, the Bulldogs appeared at No. 22. In updated Massey Ratings, Concordia is listed at No. 10 with the No. 5 rated strength of schedule in the NAIA. The seven-game GPAC win streak has revived hopes of contending for the conference regular season title. The Bulldogs sit behind only Northwestern (9-0) and Dordt (9-1).
· Limback’s crew now stands at 5-3 in road games this season after emerging from Crete and Sioux City with victories last week. Concordia extended its series win streak over Doane to six while jumping on the Tigers early in a comfortable victory. Schutte stole the show with a 24-point, 10-rebound effort that allowed him to overtake Jon Ziegler for the program’s all-time scoring record. In addition, Trsitan Smith posted 16 points and seven rebounds, Jaxon Stueve added 10 points and Brad Bennett tallied nine points. Three days later, the Bulldogs’ 16-point second-half lead at Briar Cliff evaporated and led to overtime. Smith rose to the occasion and racked up a career-high 37 points on 15-for-20 shooting from the floor. The Elizabeth, Colo., native scored eight points during the extra session. Schutte (13 points and 11 rebounds) posted a second double-double on the week. Over the two road wins, Concordia shot 52.3 percent from the floor and held Doane/Briar Cliff to 45.4 percent shooting.
· While it’s true that Schutte broke the all-time scoring record during a fifth college season, it’s also true that he ranks as one of the most efficient scorers in program history. In 132 collegiate games, Schutte has tallied 2,118 points while shooting 55.2 percent (748-for-1,353) from the floor, 40.1 percent (126-for-314) from 3-point range and 78.2 percent (496-for-634) from the foul line. Schutte has also run his career rebound total to 854, a number that ranks fourth in program history behind only Matt List (928), Gage Smith (899) and Chandler Folkerts (868). The previous Concordia all-time leading scorer, Jon Ziegler, amassed 2,099 points in 128 games and helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2005 NAIA Division II national championship game.
· Smith has pushed his scoring average back over 20 per game (20.4) after his career-high 37-point outing at Briar Cliff. It marked the fourth time this season that the Elizabeth, Colo., native has eclipsed 30 points in a game. He also scored 35 at Waldorf on Dec. 14, 34 versus Morningside on Nov. 16 and 33 at Dordt on Nov. 23. Smith leads the GPAC in field goal percentage at 69.1. Among league players, Smith also ranks second in blocks per game (1.3), sixth in scoring average (20.4), sixth in rebounding (7.4), sixth in assists (3.9) and sixth in steals (1.9). Smith has totaled 1,246 points and 597 rebounds in 96 career games.
· During the active seven-game GPAC win streak, Concordia has averaged 92.9 points and has allowed 75.9 points per game. The victories have come over Briar Cliff (twice), Hastings, Waldorf, Dakota Wesleyan, No. 11 Dordt and Doane. Impressively, four of the wins have come on the road. Among GPAC teams, the Bulldogs rank third in field goal percentage offense (.524), fourth in scoring offense (87.1), fourth in field goal percentage defense (.462), fourth in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.343), fifth in 3-point field goal percentage offense (.385), seventh in scoring defense (76.1) and ninth in free throw percentage (.701).
· Friedrich Arena has been good to the Bulldogs. They are 8-1 at home and are averaging 89.1 points and allowing 73.4 points in those nine contests. The shooting percentages at home have also been impressive – 51.5 percent from the floor and 41.3 percent from 3-point range (compared to 43.9 percent and 31.3 percent, respectively, for their opponents). With his outburst in the blowout of No. 11 Dordt, Bennett is shooting 53.4 percent (31-for-58) from beyond the arc in home games. Dating back to late in the 2020-21 season, the Bulldogs have won 51 of their last 56 home games. That stretch included a 23-game home win streak.
Concordia Projected Starting Five
G – Brad Bennett, 6-1 (11.5)
G – Hayden Frank, 6-2 (7.1)
G – Jaxon Stueve, 6-4 (8.5)
F – Noah Schutte, 6-4 (17.1)
F – Tristan Smith, 6-5 (20.4)
The opponents
Mount Marty has exceeded its win total from the 2023-24 season when it went 6-20 overall (2-18 GPAC). The brightest star for Head Coach Collin Authier’s squad is Tash Lunday, who ranks second in the GPAC with an average of 22.6 points per game. Among GPAC teams, the Lancers rank fourth in scoring defense (73.8), sixth in field goal percentage offense (.501), sixth in field goal percentage defense (.472), sixth in free throw percentage (.739), seventh in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.360), eighth in scoring average (72.6) and ninth in 3-point field goal percentage offense (.320). Mount Marty won three-straight GPAC games near the end of November when it defeated Midland, Waldorf and Hastings. Since then, the Lancers have dropped five in a row. Concordia won both 2023-24 meetings with Mount Marty.
Mount Marty Projected Starting Five
G – Brandon Garcia, 6-2 (10.5)
G – Jake Jensen, 6-5 (7.0)
G – Mac Ryken, 5-10 (5.9)
G/F – Tash Lunday, 6-6 (22.6)
F – Jared Lopez, 6-6 (7.0)
Northwestern enters the week ranked No. 7 in the NAIA and could rise even higher when a new poll is released on Wednesday. The Red Raiders are a perfect 17-0 while led by a dominant frontcourt headlined by the Van Kalsbeek brothers, junior Alex and freshman Jesse. Both Van Kalsbeeks average better than 20 points per game. Head Coach Kris Korver’s vaunted freshman class also includes guard Jalen Langsy, who is averaging 16.5 points while shooting 47.2 percent from 3-point range. Among GPAC squads, Northwestern ranks first in field goal percentage offense (.565), first in 3-point field goal percentage offense (.429), first in free throw percentage (.773), first in field goal percentage defense (.411), first in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.305), second in scoring offense (92.0) and second in scoring defense (69.7). A two-time national championship winning coach, Korver appears to have a team capable of contending for a third title. Northwestern is ranked No. 1 in the NAIA by Massey Ratings. The Bulldogs and Red Raiders split last season’s two meetings (decided by a combined seven points) with the home team winning in both instances. Concordia has beaten Northwestern in each of the past six meetings that took place inside Friedrich Arena.
Northwestern Projected Starting Five
G – Kaleb Booth, 6-0 (9.9)
G – Jalen Langsy, 6-0 (16.5)
F – Zach LaFave, 6-5 (7.2)
F – Alex Van Kalsbeek, 6-6 (22.7)
F – Jesse Van Kalsbeek, 6-6 (20.1)
Next week
The Bulldogs have a convenient bye in the middle of next week as they look ahead to the 72nd Concordia Invitational Tournament, which will run Jan. 24-25 in Ann Arbor, Mich. CUNE will take on Concordia University Chicago on day one of CIT.