ORANGE CITY, Iowa – It was one of those days on the road within the GPAC. Big man Alex Van Kalsbeek went wild for 35 points against a Concordia University Men’s Basketball team that allowed season highs for points and opponent field goal percentage (.596). Northwestern used its offensive proficiency in claiming a 92-77 victory over the Bulldogs on Saturday (Jan. 22).
The result snapped what had been a six-game series win streak versus the Red Raiders. Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad fell to 17-5 overall (10-4 GPAC). Concordia is now two losses behind first-place Briar Cliff (10-2 GPAC).
“Their big guy really had a good game – he got to the free throw line and finished at the rim,” Limback said. “We didn’t have an answer for him. I didn’t think we had the best effort defensively, but they have some really talented guys. We knew coming in that it was a big game for both sides. They wanted it more today.”
The game got away from the Bulldogs when Northwestern went on a 16-4 run that pushed its lead to 72-56 midway through the second half. With the likes of Van Kalsbeek and Trent Hillbrands feasting on the offensive end, the Red Raiders maintained a double-digit lead for the remainder of the contest. The work of Van Kalsbeek on the interior helped open it up on the perimeter for Hillbrands to drain four 3-point field goals and pile up 19 points.
Most opponents have struggled this season at the Bultman Center, where Northwestern is 11-1. Thanks to a big first half from Noah Schutte, Concordia hung within five (46-41) at the break on Saturday. Schutte posted 13 of his 17 points in the first 20 minutes. Meanwhile, the Red Raiders managed to limit Carter Kent to four points in the first half. He got going after the intermission and finished with a team high 19 points (8-for-8 from the foul line). Despite foul trouble, Gage Smith collected 16 points and seven rebounds. Point guard AJ Watson chipped in 11 points and four rebounds.
None of that production could overcome Northwestern shooting 71.4 percent from the floor (15-for-21) in the second half. Van Kalsbeek made 14-of-19 on his field goal attempts. He and Hillbrands were joined in double figures by teammates Matt Onken (16) and Grant DeMeulenaere (12). The Red Raiders finished with a slight advantage on the boards, 34-30, in a contest that featured eight turnovers apiece. Northwestern (17-6, 9-4 GPAC) stands just a half-game behind Concordia in the standings.
Added Limback, “Defensively, we didn’t do enough to disrupt their rhythm. Offensively, we didn’t shoot well enough to offset what they were able to do tonight. We can’t let it affect the next game.”
While the Bulldogs have gone 7-0 in GPAC home games (all victories by double digits), they are now 3-4 in conference road games. A week ago, Concordia edged out No. 11 Jamestown, 82-79, in North Dakota. The season profile does include a solid nonconference road win at Ottawa University (Kan.).
The Bulldogs will return home on Wednesday to host Hastings (6-16, 1-11 GPAC) with tipoff set for 7:45 p.m. CT from Friedrich Arena. Concordia has had the Broncos’ number, winning each of the past 12 meetings between the two rivals. In the first matchup this season, the Bulldogs earned an 81-66 road win after having trailed at halftime on Dec. 11.