SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The opposition had been averaging just 64.8 points through the first four games this season against the Concordia University men’s basketball team. However, 10th-ranked Briar Cliff carved the Bulldogs up with hot 3-point shooting that lifted it to an 81-64 victory on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 10). Concordia also fell at Midland, 78-72, on Tuesday.
Life on the road was not easy this week for sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad, which is now 3-2 overall (0-2 GPAC).
“They have guys who can really shoot it,” Limback said of the Chargers. “We let them get a couple early that gave them some good momentum. We switched to a zone that disrupted their rhythm a little bit, but by that time we had already dug ourselves a hole. We weren’t good enough offensively to dig out of a 15-point deficit. The second half was better. We were able to get fouled more inside. We just dug too big of a hole that first five minutes.”
The Bulldogs had a height edge in this contest, but Briar Cliff (5-0, 2-0 GPAC) figures to make up any such disadvantages all season with one of the nation’s top backcourts led by seniors Erich Erdman and Jay Wolfe. On this particular night, junior Jackson Lamb burned Concordia by going 6-for-11 from 3-point range and Wolfe poured in a game high 20 points. Meanwhile, Erdman nailed 4-of-6 from downtown and ended up with 15 points.
The onslaught began immediately. Edrman knocked in a trey just 13 seconds after tipoff. Less than five minutes into the game, the Chargers had already built a double-digit lead. The Bulldog deficit grew to as many as 20 points (37-17) in the first half and then ballooned to as many as 30 points (72-42) in the second half. Briar Cliff wound up going 16-for-35 (.457) from beyond the arc.
Junior Brevin Sloup topped Concordia with 16 points while going 6-for-11 from the floor. No one else reached double figures for the visitors, although Tanner Shuck and Logan Eaker added eight points apiece. The Bulldogs shot just 34.6 percent (18-for-52) from the field.
Said Limback, “Next week’s emphasis is finishing better inside and we have to also be able to defend better on-ball as we move forward.”
Concordia managed to own a 38-33 advantage in rebounding. The Bulldogs committed a respectable 11 turnovers and shot 30 free throws (66.7 percent). Wragge made his first career start.
The Bulldogs will be back home this coming week to continue conference play. Concordia will welcome Hastings (6-1, 2-0 GPAC) to Walz Arena for an 8 p.m. CT tipoff on Wednesday (Nov. 14). The Bulldogs have swept the season series with the Broncos in back-to-back years. Hastings has won six games in a row since opening the season with a loss to Friends University (Kan.).