2010-2011 - Basketball schedule/results

16-13 Overall, 10-8 GPAC | Season Statistics

OCTOBER
Cornerstone Classic:
Oct. 29	York College	York, Neb.	L 71-63
Oct. 30	Bethany College	York, Neb.	W 84-73
NOVEMBER
Cattle Classic:
Nov. 11	York College	Seward, Neb.	W 75-73
Nov. 13	Bethel College	Seward, Neb.	W 71-66
Nov. 16	Grace College	Seward, Neb.	W 74-43
Nov. 20	Morningside College*	Seward, Neb.	W 76-67
Nov. 24	Midland University*	Fremont, Neb.	W 69-53
DECEMBER
Dec. 1	Doane College*	Crete, Neb.	L 82-65
Dec. 4	Dakota Wesleyan University*	Seward, Neb.	W 82-71
Dec. 8	Hastings College*	Seward, Neb.	W 76-56
Dec. 16	Bellevue University	Bellevue, Neb.	L 78-51
Bethel Classic:
Dec. 31	Bethel College	Newton, Kan.	W 70-58
JANUARY
Jan. 1	Friends University	Newton, Kan.	W 86-74
Jan. 3	Northwestern College* (rescheduled from Dec. 11)	Orange City, Iowa	L 96-87
Jan. 8	Dordt College*	Seward, Neb.	L 92-72
Jan. 12	Nebraska Wesleyan University*	Lincoln, Neb.	W 68-55
Jan. 16	Dakota Wesleyan University*	Mitchell, S.D.	L 92-64
Jan. 19	Midland University*	Seward, Neb.	W 79-56
Jan. 22	Briar Cliff University*	Sioux City, Iowa	L 79-66
Jan 26	Doane College*	Seward, Neb.	W 86-85 OT
Concordia Invitational Tournament:
Jan. 28	Concordia University Chicago	Ann Arbor, Mich.	L 71-58
Jan. 29	Concordia University Wisconsin	Ann Arbor, Mich.	L 86-66
FEBRUARY
Feb. 2	Hastings College*	Hastings, Neb.	W 71-70
Feb. 5	University of Sioux Falls*	Seward, Neb.	W 71-66
Feb. 9	Briar Cliff University*	Seward, Neb.	L 59-57
Feb. 12	Morningside College*	Sioux City, Iowa	W 81-78
Feb. 16	Nebraska Wesleyan University*	Seward, Neb.	L 70-55
Feb. 19	Mount Marty College*	Yankton, S.D.	L 52-51
GPAC Tournament:
Feb. 22	Midland University	Seward, Neb.	L 81-66

2010-11 Roster

No.	Name	Pos.	Ht.	Yr.	Hometown	Previous School
10	Adam Vogt	G	5-9	Fr.	Syracuse, Neb.	Syracuse
12	Phil Friedrich	G	5-10	So.	Seward, Neb.	Seward
14	Tyler Byrd	G	6-0	Jr.	Bennington, Neb.	Bennington
20	T.J. Todd	G	6-2	Jr.	Seaside, Calif.	Monterey Peninsula College
22	Barrett Braun	G	6-5	Jr.	Lakeside, Calif.	Cuyamaca College
24	Charles Dunbar	G	5-10	So.	Florissant, Mo.	Lutheran North
32	Garrett Golke	G	6-2	Fr.	Gowen, Mich.	Greenville Senior High
40	Brent Houchin	F	6-7	So.	Bruning, Neb.	Bruning-Davenport
42	Ryan Shrum	F	6-7	Sr.	Allen, Texas	Allen
44	Sam Huebner	F	6-6	Sr.	Aurora, Colo.	Smoky Hill
50	Porter Birtell	P	6-7	So.	Madison, Neb.	Lutheran High NE/Wayne State
52	Andy Banahan	P	6-8	Sr.	Steele City, Neb.	Fairbury
54	Matt Mueller	P	6-8	R-Fr.	Omaha, Neb.	Concordia HS

JV Roster

No.	Name	Pos.	Ht.	Yr.	Hometown	Previous School
10	Adam Vogt	G	5-9	Fr.	Syracuse, Neb.	Syracuse
12	Phil Friedrich	G	5-10	So.	Seward, Neb.	Seward
20	Charles Dunbar	G	5-10	So.	Florissant, Mo.	Luthern North
24	Derrick Wiebe	G	6-1	Fr.	Malcolm, Neb.	Malcolm HS
30	Cole Wilson	G	6-2	Fr.	Westminster, Colo.	Standley Lake HS
32	Garrett Golke	G	6-2	Fr.	Gowen, Mich.	Greenville Senior HS
34	Jacob Gremmer	F	6-6	Fr.	New Braunfels, Texas	Home School
54	Matt Mueller	P	6-8	R-Fr.	Omaha, Neb.	Concordia HS

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Grant Schmidt

Assistant Coach: Anthony Elias

Graduate Assistant Coach: Sam Waniewski

Standerfer lifts York College to 71-63 win over Concordia

29 OCT 2010

York College picked up a 71-63 men’s basketball win over Concordia on Friday evening at the Cornerstone Classic Tournament in York. It was the opening game of the season for both teams. Turnovers and cold shooting plagued the Bulldogs in the loss.

Corey Standerfer led the way for the Panthers in the win. He led all scorers with 26 points and added seven rebounds. Standerfer was 8-of-15 from the field and a perfect 9-of-9 at the foul line on the night. Dedrick Dews was the only other player in double figures for York with 10 points. Thaddeus Varmall added nine points for the Panthers.

York College was 25-of-58 from the field for 43.1 percent on the night. The Panthers were 7-of-23 (30.4 percent) from behind the three point line and 14-of-17 at the foul line for 82.4 percent. The Panthers finished with 15 turnovers in the game.

Porter Birtell had a team-high 24 points for Concordia in a losing effort. Birtell (Madison, Neb.) connected on 11-of-17 field goal attempts on the night. However, the Bulldogs were hurt by turnovers and poor free throw shooting throughout the game. Concordia finished with 18 turnovers and went just 12-of-24 from the free throw line in the loss. Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) added 10 points, while Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) scored eight on the night.

Concordia was 23-of-52 from the field for 44.2 percent. The Bulldogs, however, struggled from long range, hitting just 5-of-21 from behind the arc. Concordia held a 38-30 rebounding advantage in the contest.

The Bulldogs are back in action on Saturday. Concordia concludes play in the Cornerstone Classic with a 3 p.m. contest against Bethany College.

Big second half helps Concordia drop Bethany College, 84-73

31 OCT 2010

The Concordia University men’s basketball team used a huge second half to pull away for an 84-73 win over Bethany College on Saturday afternoon in York. Following a tough loss Friday evening, the Bulldogs played much better on Saturday as they improved to 1-1 on the young season with the win. Bethany College dropped to 0-2 with the loss.

Sam Huebner had a huge day to lead the Bulldogs in the victory. Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) poured in a game-high 27 points to pace the Concordia offensive attack. Huebner was 10-of-16 from the floor and 7-of-11 at the free throw line. He also added a game-high eight rebounds. Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) also had a solid offensive game for the Bulldogs. Byrd scored 21 points to go along with six rebounds and a game-high four assists. The junior guard was 7-of-12 overall and 5-of-8 from three point land on the day.

Transfer Barrett Braun (Lakeside, Calif.) also reached double figures for Concordia with 10 points. Braun was perfect from the field on the day, hitting all three of his shots from the field and both of his free throw attempts. Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) added nine points, and Brent Houchin (Bruning, Neb.) scored eight off the bench for a balanced Concordia offense.

Concordia was 25-of-45 (55.6 percent) from the field for the game. The Bulldogs were 9-of-20 (45 percent) from three point land and 25-of-32 (78.1 percent) at the charity stripe. The Bulldogs shot 15 more free throws than Bethany College, and the second half was the big story for Concordia offensively. The Bulldogs erupted for 55 points in the final half of play on an amazing 14-of-19 (73.7 percent) from the field. Concordia was 6-of-8 from behind the three point line and 21-of-25 from the foul line in the second half. The Bulldogs also held a 31-23 rebounding advantage in the win.

Bethany College was led by Haydon Parks’ 19 points and five rebounds. Parks was 8-of-10 from the field on the day. Clayton Goggins added 17 points, and Trey Beachum delivered 12 points for the Swedes. Bethany was 27-of-55 (49.1 percent) from the field, 7-of-17 (41.2 percent) from deep and 12-of-17 (70.6 percent) from the foul line.

Huebner hits game-winner as Bulldogs hold off York College, 75-73

11 NOV 2010

Concordia senior Sam Huebner scored in the final seconds to lift the Bulldogs to an exciting 75-73 men’s basketball win over York College on Thursday evening in Seward. It was the opening game of the Cattle Classic Tournament. Concordia improved to 2-1 on the year with the win. York College slipped to 2-3 on the year with the loss.

Concordia led for a good portion of the first half. The Bulldogs led by as many 17 on two occasions and took a 45-28 lead into halftime. Concordia was 21-of-43 (48.3 percent) from the field in the opening half. The Bulldogs were 6-of-13 (48.3 percent) from behind the three point line and a perfect 11-of-11 at the foul line in the first 20 minutes. The Bulldogs also limited the visiting Panthers to just 9-of-27 (33.3 percent) shooting in the opening half of play.

The Bulldogs maintained a double-digit lead throughout much of the second half, but York College went on a run down the stretch. The Panthers used pressure defense to cause several Concordia turnovers, and York turned those turnovers into easy points. Layups by Dee Ellison and Thaddeus Varmall pulled the Panthers within three at 73-70 with 1:20 remaining in regulation.

Another Bulldog turnover led to a basket by Corey Standerfer, and York College trailed by just one (73-72) with just over a minute to play in the game. Following a Concordia miss, York College had a shot to tie or take the lead. Sanderfer drew a foul and went to the line for two shots with just eight seconds remaining. He went 1-of-2 at the charity stripe to tie the score at 73-73.

Concordia was forced to go the length of the court, but Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) weaved his way through the York College press. Byrd found Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) with a lob pass, and Huebner kissed it off the glass for the game-winner just before time expired.

“We invested a lot of time in preparing for York College, so this would’ve been a real tough loss for us in our home opening game,” said Grant Schmidt, head coach of the Bulldogs. “This win establishes us mentally, because we found a way to win despite making a lot of mistakes.”

The Bulldogs turned the ball over 22 times in the game with many of those coming down the stretch in the second half. Concordia held a commanding 39-26 rebounding advantage in the win.

“Our rebounding was dominant, especially in the first half,” noted Schmidt. “That allowed us to stick to our game plan in the first half. Obviously, it got away from us some in the second half. But I was very pleased with our rebounding tonight.”

Concordia finished 21-of-43 (48.8 percent) from the field in the game. The Bulldogs were 6-of-17 (35.3 percent) from deep and 27-of-32 (84.4 percent) from the foul line in the win.

Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) scored 18 points to lead the way offensively for the Bulldogs. The senior went 4-of-8 from three point land and was a perfect 4-of-4 at the foul line on the night. Brent Houchin (Bruning, Neb.) added 17 points and six boards off the bench, while Porter Birtell (Madison, Neb.) chipped in with 12 points and six rebounds. Byrd had a nice all-around game for the Bulldogs. Byrd totaled eight points, eight rebounds and seven assists in the Concordia win.

Corey Standerfer scored a game-high 27 points for the Panthers. Standerfer was 7-of-11 from the floor, 2-of-4 from deep and 11-of-13 at the foul line. Varmall added 15 points for York College.

Play in the Cattle Classic Tournament continues on Friday. The Concordia men are off until Saturday when they take on Bethel College. Coach Schmidt is excited to build on Thursday’s exciting win.

“We really need to concentrate on putting together a solid 40 minutes,” remarked Schmidt. “Our defense was pretty solid overall tonight. I thought our offensive mistakes really hurt our defense at times. This was a good win tonight against a very athletic team, and we’re looking forward to Saturday.”

Bulldogs hold off Bethel College, 71-66

13 NOV 2010

The Concordia University men’s basketball team held on for a 71-66 win over Bethel College on Saturday afternoon in the final game of the Cattle Classic Tournament. The Bulldogs improved to 3-1 on the year with the win, while Bethel College remained winless on the year at 0-4.

Both teams struggled to find rhythm offensively in the opening half of play. Concordia hit 10-of-24 shots (41.7 percent), while Bethel was just 8-of-25 (32 percent) from the floor in the opening 20 minutes. Concordia took a 28-22 lead into halftime.

In the second half, both teams put up over 40 points. The Bulldogs were 13-of-26 from the floor, while the visiting Threshers were 14-of-32 (43.8 percent) in the final half. Concordia used solid free throw shooting down the stretch to seal the win. The Bulldogs were 15-of-20 (75 percent) in the second half and 21-of-26 (80.8 percent) overall from the free throw line in the win. Concordia also held a commanding 40-28 rebounding advantage.

Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) scored a team-high 17 points and added four assists to lead the way for the Bulldogs. The senior forward was 5-of-8 from the field and 7-of-8 at the free throw line. Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) added 16 points and six boards. Shrum was 4-of-9 from three point land and was the only Concordia player to hit a 3-pointer in the game. Porter Birtell (Madison, Neb.) also reached double figures for the Bulldogs with 15 points.

Bethel was 22-of-57 (38.6 percent) from the field overall. The Threshers were 10-of-25 (40 percent) from deep and 12-of-15 (80 percent) at the foul line. Jason O’Brien scored a game-high 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting from long range to lead Bethel College. Alonzo Haywood added 13 points, and Justin Schneider added 10 for the Threshers.

Following the game, the Cattle Classic All-Tournament Team was selected. Alonzo Haywood (Bethel College), Dedrick Dews (York College), Corey Standerfer (York College), Ryan Shrum (Concordia University) and Sam Huebner (Concordia University) were named to the team.

Concordia hosts Grace University on November 16 at the Health, Human Performance and Athletic Center.

Concordia cruises past Grace University, 74-43

16 NOV 2010

Concordia University picked up an easy 74-43 win over Grace University on Tuesday evening in Seward. Concordia improved to 4-1 on the season with the win. Grace dropped to 1-5 on the year with the loss. The Bulldogs were 16-of-30 (53.3 percent) in the opening half as they built a 42-20 halftime lead. Three players scored in double figures for a balanced offensive attack, while the defense held Grace to 13-of-57 (22.8 percent) from the field.

Porter Birtell (Madison, Neb.) had a team-high 17 points to go along with seven rebounds for Concordia. Birtell was 7-of-8 from the field and 3-of-4 at the foul line. Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) fell just short of a triple-double. Byrd finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists on the night. Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) chipped in with 10 points, 11 boards, three assists and three steals. The Bulldogs held a commanding 49-30 rebounding advantage and totaled 19 assists compared to just four for Grace University.

Lorenzo Campbell scored a game-high 18 points for Grace University in a losing effort. No other player scored more than four points for the visiting Royals.

Concordia hosts Morningside College on Saturday. Action is scheduled to start at 4 pm at the Health, Human Performance and Athletic Center.

Byrd's big night leads Concordia to fifth straight win, 76-67 over Morningside

20 NOV 2010

Concordia jumped out to an early lead and then held on for a 76-67 men’s basketball win over Morningside College on Saturday afternoon in Seward. The Bulldogs won their fifth straight game to improve to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play. Morningside dropped to 2-5 overall and 0-1 in GPAC play with the loss.

Concordia took an early 9-2 lead in the opening minutes. Junior guard Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) scored seven of the first nine for the Bulldogs. A 13-2 run by Concordia to end the first half gave the Bulldogs a comfortable 39-24 lead heading into the break. Byrd totaled 22 points in the opening half to lead the way. Concordia was 10-of-11 at the foul line, and the Bulldogs held Morningside to just 6-of-24 (25 percent) from the field in the opening 20 minutes.

Morningside used pressure defense to cut into the lead early in the second half, but Concordia held on to its advantage. With just under 11 minutes to play in the contest, Morningside used a key 9-0 run to pull within two at 55-53. The Mustangs then tied the game at 58-58 with seven minutes remaining.

The Bulldogs reclaimed the lead with just under seven minutes to play. Barrett Braun (Lakeside, Calif.) made a pair of free throws to give Concordia a 60-58 lead, and the Bulldogs would hold the lead the rest of the way. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) and Braun pushed the Bulldog lead to 10 at 70-60 with just over three minutes left in regulation, and Concordia held on for the win.

The Bulldogs were 22-of-44 (50 percent) from the floor, 9-of-17 (52.9 percent) from deep and 25-of-30 (83.3 percent) from the foul line in the win. Concordia held a 37-29 rebounding advantage. Byrd scored 30 points and added four steals to pace the Bulldogs. Byrd was 9-of-17 from the floor, 4-of-6 from long range and 8-of-10 at the foul line. Braun scored 13 points (all in the second half), and Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) added 12 points, six rebounds and five assists. Porter Birtell (Madison, Neb.) added a double-double of 11 points and 14 rebounds for Concordia.

Kevin Zoz scored 18 points to lead Morningside. Jake Hamburger added 10 off the bench for the visiting Mustangs.

The Bulldogs travel to Midland University on November 23 for an 8 pm matchup against the Warriors.

Concordia shuts down Midland University for sixth straight win

23 NOV 2010

The Concordia University men’s basketball team improved to 6-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play with a 69-53 win over Midland University on Tuesday evening in Fremont. The Bulldogs used balanced scoring and a suffocating defense to pull away for the easy victory. Midland dropped to 2-6 overall and 0-2 in the GPAC with the loss.

Concordia jumped out to a big lead in the opening minutes of the game. Barrett Braun (Lakeside, Calif.) hit a jumper to open the scoring. Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) followed with a 3-pointer to push the lead to 5-0. Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) then hit back-to-back 3-pointers, and Concordia grabbed an 11-0 lead.

The Bulldogs led by as many as 19 (25-6) in the opening half before Midland cut into the lead. The Warriors trimmed the lead down to seven (28-21) with just over three minutes remaining in the first half. Three made free throws by Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) gave Concordia a 31-21 lead heading into halftime.

Early in the second half, Midland rallied to within six at 34-28 before Concordia went on another run. The Bulldogs used a key 18-7 run to take a 52-35 lead with just over 12 minutes remaining. Concordia cruised the rest of the way and led by as many as 24 on multiple occasions down the stretch.

Concordia was 20-of-46 (43.5 percent) from the field in the win. The Bulldogs were 8-of-22 (36.4 percent) from long range and 21-of-29 (72.4 percent) from the foul line. Concordia held a 43-37 rebounding advantage.

Byrd, this week’s GPAC Player-of-the-Week, scored a game-high 18 points to lead the way offensively for the Bulldogs. The junior was 6-of-12 from the field, 3-of-7 from 3-point land and 3-of-4 at the foul line. Huebner added a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds. Huebner was a perfect 3-of-3 from the field and 9-of-12 at the foul line on the night. Shrum chipped in with 14 points and seven rebounds.

The Bulldog defense was solid once again. Midland University was just 18-of-65 (27.7 percent) from the field. The Warriors hit just 8-of-35 shots in the first half for 22.9 percent. Midland connected on just 5-of-23 from deep for 21.7 percent.

Marcus Messersmith scored 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting to pace Midland University. Zach Rosenboom added 14 points and seven rebounds for the Warriors.

Concordia travels to Doane College on December 1 for an 8 pm matchup against the Tigers.

Winning streak snapped as Doane defeats Concordia, 82-65

1 DEC 2010

Doane College outscored Concordia by 16 in the second half and picked up an 82-65 men’s basketball win on Wednesday evening in Crete. The Tigers improved to 7-2 on the season with a 2-0 mark in conference play with the win. Concordia had its six-game winning streak snapped to fall to 6-2 overall and 2-1 in GPAC play.

Doane jumped out to a quick 12-4 lead in the opening minutes of the game. The Tigers led by as many as 12 before Concordia settled into the game. The Bulldogs rallied and took a brief lead at 35-34 on a layup by Brent Houchin (Bruning, Neb.). The host Tigers got a basket in the closing seconds of the half, however, and Doane held a slim 36-35 lead at the break.

The Tigers used a quick run at the start of the second half to build a 51-43 lead. Doane took complete control of the game from there. The Tigers took a 10-point lead at 56-46 and led by double figures the rest of the way. Concordia used a 10-0 run to get within 11 at 74-63 with just over two minutes remaining in the contest, but Doane again pulled away for the 17-point win.

Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) had a double-double to lead Concordia in a losing effort. Huebner poured in 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds on the night. Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) and Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) added 13 apiece, but the duo combined to shoot just 9-of-27 from the floor. Porter Birtell (Madison, Neb.) also reached double figures with 11 points on the night. The Bulldogs were just 22-of-60 (37 percent) from the field in the game. Concordia did manage to hold a 45-32 rebounding advantage, but the Bulldogs totaled 17 turnovers compared to just seven for Doane.

The usually reliable Concordia defense struggled. The Tigers were 31-of-60 (51.7 percent) from the field in the win. Concordia had allowed just 63.7 points per game, and teams shot just 36.1 percent from the field against the Bulldogs entering Wednesday’s game. Doane placed four players in double figures, and Nick Reed led the way with 21 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Josh Riser scored 20, and Trent Schlautman added 17. Taylor Oltjenbruns had 11 points and four assists.

Concordia hosts Dakota Wesleyan University on Saturday afternoon. Game time is scheduled for 4 pm at the Health, Human Performance and Athletic Center.

Concordia holds off late rally, picks up 82-71 win over Dakota Wesleyan

4 DEC 2010

Concordia University secured an 82-71 men’s basketball win over Dakota Wesleyan University on Saturday evening in Seward. The Bulldogs led for most of the way, but had to hold off a late rally by DWU to pick up the win. Concordia improved to 7-2 overall and 3-1 in the GPAC with the win, while Dakota Wesleyan slipped to 7-3 overall and 2-2 in GPAC play with the loss.

The first half was close throughout. The Bulldogs led by as many as six on two separate occasions, but the visiting Tigers hung around and pulled within one at 35-34 with 20 seconds remaining in the half. Concordia’s Andy Banahan (Steele City, Neb.) scored with two seconds left to put the Bulldogs on top by the score of 37-34 heading into the halftime break.

Concordia built a 46-38 lead with just over 16 minutes to play in the contest, but DWU rallied. The Tigers pulled within one (50-49) with just under 12 minutes remaining. Concordia again had an answer, as Adam Vogt (Syracuse, Neb.) and Barrett Braun (Lakeside, Calif.) hit back-to-back 3-pointers to push the lead back to seven at 56-49.

After Concordia built a double digit lead, Dakota Wesleyan used pressure defense to get back into the game. With the Bulldogs leading 73-59 with about four minutes left in regulation, the Tigers used a quick 8-0 run to pull within six at 73-67.

A pair of made free throws by Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) pushed the Concordia lead back to eight at 75-67. DWU’s Demetrius Davis then connected on two free throws to trim the Concordia lead back to six at 75-69. Kristopher Wilson followed with two more made free throws for DWU to pull the Tigers within four (75-71) with 1:40 left in regulation.

Byrd was fouled and made 1-of-2 at the line to give the Bulldogs a 76-71 advantage. The Tigers went cold down the stretch, and solid free throw shooting by Concordia sealed the 82-71 victory.

“This win shows we have a resilient team,” said Bulldog junior Tyler Byrd. “We had a tough loss the other night, but we learned some things in that game. It was great to bounce back and defend our home court.”

Concordia was 28-of-61 (45.9 percent) from the field overall. The Bulldogs were 11-of-21 (52.4 percent) from deep, and that was a huge difference in the game. A total of five different Concordia players hit 3-pointers in the game, and several key makes from long range snapped scoring runs by Dakota Wesleyan. The Bulldogs were strong at the foul line, connecting on 15-of-19 for 78.9 percent. Concordia held a slim 37-33 rebounding advantage in the win.

Byrd led a balanced Concordia scoring attack with a game-high 22 points. He was 7-of-14 from the field, 3-of-5 from deep and 5-of-6 at the foul line. Byrd also added five rebounds and four assists. Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) added 15 points, and Braun poured in 14 to go along with five boards. Porter Birtell (Madison, Neb.) scored 11 points and added a team-best eight rebounds. Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) filled the stat sheet with seven points, six rebounds and six assists.

“This is our first win over Dakota Wesleyan since I’ve been here,” noted Bulldog senior Ryan Shrum. “We lost to these guys last year, and it’s big to pick up this win over one of the top teams in the conference.”

Dakota Wesleyan was 25-of-58 (43.1 percent) from the field in the loss. The Tigers went just 5-of-22 (22.7 percent) from long range and were 16-of-20 (80 percent) at the foul line.

Brady Wiebe scored 16 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead DWU. Larry Swann and Jake Kneeland added 12 points apiece for the Tigers.

Concordia hosts Hastings College on Wednesday evening. Tip is scheduled for 8 pm at the Health, Human Performance and Athletic Center.

Concordia cruises to 76-56 win over Hastings College

8 DEC 2010

The Concordia University men’s basketball team improved to 8-2 overall and 4-1 in GPAC play with a decisive 76-56 win over Hastings College on Wednesday evening in Seward. The win kept Concordia in a tie for second place in the GPAC standings. Hastings College dropped to 4-9 overall and 1-4 in the GPAC with the loss.

The visiting Broncos grabbed an early lead and held onto that lead for the first nine minutes of the game. The Bulldogs used an 11-1 run to take a 23-17 lead with just under seven minutes left in the first half. Concordia then finished the first half on a 14-3 run to take a 39-25 lead into halftime.

The Bulldogs jumped all over Hastings early in the second half. Concordia led by as many as 32 (69-37) with just over 10 minutes left to play in the contest, and the Bulldogs cruised to the 20-point win.

“Our physical play really bothered them tonight,” said Grant Schmidt, head coach of the Bulldogs. “We learned a lot after last week (loss to Doane), and our defense and rebounding were incredible tonight. We held some of their players well under their average and overall, we made it look pretty easy in the second half especially tonight.”

The Bulldogs totally dominated the rebounding battle. Concordia finished with 49 rebounds in the contest compared to just 28 for the Broncos. Concordia totaled 21 assists on their 24 made field goals. The Bulldogs also blocked 10 shots and came up with seven steals on the night. Offensively, Concordia was 24-of-54 (44.4 percent) from the field. The Bulldogs were 11-of-24 (45.8 percent) from deep and 17-of-25 (68 percent) from the free throw line.

Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) scored a game-high 19 points to lead a balanced Concordia offensive attack. Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) added 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Barrett Braun (Lakeside, Calif.) and Porter Birtell (Madison, Neb.) chipped in with 13 and 11 points, respectively, for the Bulldogs. Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) had another solid performance for Concordia with eight points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks in the Bulldog win.

“We were fine once we got settled into the game tonight,” noted Bulldog senior Ryan Shrum. “We did a nice job of playing inside-out, and that’s when our shooters are at their best. We hit some outside shots to really stretch the defense, and then we were able to work our inside game much more in the second half. Everyone contributed tonight.”

Hastings College was just 17-of-56 (30.4 percent) from the field in the loss. The Broncos were 5-of-15 (33.3 percent) from deep and 17-of-26 (65.4 percent) at the charity stripe. Donovan Shultz scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Broncos. Tobin Reinwald added 11 for Hastings College.

Concordia travels to Northwestern College on Saturday for a key GPAC matchup against the Red Raiders. Concordia and Northwestern are currently tied for second in the GPAC standings, and Coach Schmidt talked about the upcoming road test.

“We’re going to play in an extremely tough environment on Saturday,” remarked Schmidt. “We had a real battle with them at home last year (four OT win for Concordia). They bring back pretty much the same team they had last year, and I think we’re playing better at this point than we were last year. It’s going to be a big game for our team.”

No. 20 Concordia University falls at No. 9 Bellevue University, 78-51

16 DEC 2010

Bellevue University, the No. 9 team in the NAIA, pulled away for a 78-51 men’s basketball win over No. 20 Concordia on Thursday evening. The host Bruins improved to 9-2 on the year with the win. Concordia dropped to 8-3 with the loss.

Concordia got off to a nice start and held the lead for the first several minutes of the first half. The Bulldogs struggled from the field, however, and turnovers also proved costly for Concordia as the first half went on. A late surge by Bellevue gave the Bruins a 36-21 lead heading into halftime.

The Bulldogs managed just 9-of-30 (30 percent) shooting in the opening 20 minutes. Concordia was 3-of-15 (20 percent) from long range, and 12 Bulldog turnovers led to 14 points for the Bruins. Concordia attempted just one free throw, while Bellevue was 9-of-12 at the charity stripe in the first half.

Bellevue went 13-of-27 (48 percent) from the field in the opening half of play. The Bruins used their length and athleticism to total eight steals in the half. Ousseynou Diop had 10 points, while Donald Jones chipped in with seven for the Bruins in the first 20 minutes.

The Bruins poured it on in the second half, as the offensive struggles continued for Concordia. The Bulldogs went just 10-of-29 (34.5 percent) from the field in the second half. For the game, Concordia was 19-of-59 (32.2 percent) overall and 8-of-27 (29.6 percent) from deep. The Bulldogs also struggled at the foul line, making just 5-of-14 for 35.7 percent. Concordia finished with 21 turnovers and was outrebounded 41-33.

Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) finished with 12 points, five rebounds and three blocks for the Bulldogs. Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) added 11 and four assists, while Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) scored nine.

Bellevue went 27-of-54 from the field in the win. The Bruins were 3-of-9 from long range and 21-of-30 (70 percent) from the foul line.

The inside combination of Diop and Eugene Bain proved to be too much for Concordia to handle. Diop finished with 12 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. Bain had a strong second half to finish with a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds. James Parrott and Jelani Johnson also reached double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Bruins.

Concordia will take part in the Bethel College Classic Tournament beginning on December 31.

Concordia tops Bethel College behind Huebner's double-double

31 DEC 2010

Concordia University moved to 9-3 on the year with a 70-58 men’s basketball win over Bethel College on Friday afternoon in the opening game of the Bethel College Holiday Classic Tournament. The Bulldogs used strong defense in the opening half and a balanced scoring attack to pull away for the win. The Threshers dropped to 2-11 on the year with the loss.

Concordia got off to a slow start. It took the Bulldogs over four minutes to get on the board, and the host Threshers held the lead for a good portion of the first half. Concordia took its first lead of the game with just under nine minutes remaining in the opening half. The Bulldogs used an 8-1 run to grab a 17-10 lead with 5:12 remaining in the half. With the score 17-12, Concordia used a quick 7-0 run to grab a 12 point lead with less than three minutes to play in the half. The Bulldogs settled for a 27-17 lead at the half.

Both teams struggled offensively in the first 20 minutes. Concordia was just 6-of-25 (24 percent), while Bethel was 6-of-24 (25 percent) from the field. The Bulldogs connected on just 2-of-10 from deep in the opening half of play.

The Bulldogs led by as many as 15 on two occasions early in the second half. The Threshers pulled within seven on multiple occasions, but Concordia answered with an 8-0 run to reclaim a 15 point lead at 57-42 with less than five minutes remaining in regulation. The Bulldogs led by double figures the rest of the way.

Following a tough first half, both teams shot it well in the second half. Concordia was 12-of-22 (55 percent), and Bethel was 15-of-31 (48 percent) in the final 20 minutes. The Bulldogs were 18-of-47 (38.3 percent) from the field for the game. The Threshers were 21-of-55 (38.2 percent).

Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) had a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead the way for the Bulldogs. The senior forward was 7-of-11 from the field on the day. Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) added 17 points. Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) and Barrett Braun (Lakeside, Calif.) also reached double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively, for Concordia in the win. T.J. Todd (Seaside, Calif.) poured in nine points off the bench in his first game for the Bulldogs.

Alonzo Haywood scored a team-high 14 for Bethel College. Jason O’Brien added 10 for the Threshers.

Concordia concludes play in the Bethel Holiday Tournament on Saturday with a 1 pm contest against Friends University.

Balanced scoring, 12 3-pointers key in Concordia's 86-74 win over Friends University

1 JAN 2011

A total of six players scored in double figures, and Concordia University picked up an 86-74 men’s basketball win over Friends University on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs improved to 10-3 on the year with the victory.

The Bulldogs exploded for 45 points in the first half, going 15-of-37 from the field and 8-of-17 from long distance. Friends went just 11-of-32 (34.4 percent) from the field in the opening 20 minutes, and Concordia took a 45-31 lead into the halftime break.

Both teams scored over 40 points in the final half, but solid rebounding and free throw shooting by the Bulldogs proved to be the difference. Concordia finished with a 38-28 rebounding advantage. The Bulldogs went 17-of-20 (85 percent) from the foul line in the final half of play to help secure the win.

Concordia was 25-of-61 (41 percent) from the field for the game. The Bulldogs connected on 12 3-pointers, and free throw shooting also proved to be huge in the win. The Bulldogs finished 24-of-29 (82.8 percent) from the charity stripe overall. Concordia also totaled 20 assists on their 25 made field goals.

Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) and Brent Houchin (Bruning, Neb.) each poured in 19 points to lead the way for a balanced Bulldog offense. All six of Shrum’s field goals came from deep, while Houchin went 5-of-9 from the field and 8-of-10 at the foul line. Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) added 12 points and seven boards, while Barrett Braun (Lakeside, Calif.) finished with 11 points and seven rebounds. Andy Banahan (Steele City, Neb.) and Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) had 10 points apiece. Byrd dished out 10 assists for the Bulldogs in the victory.

Reggie Britton scored a game-high 26 points for Friends University. Sean Jantz and John Bridges also reached double figures for Friends in a losing effort.

Concordia returns to GPAC play on January 3 with a road contest at Northwestern College. Tip is scheduled for 8 pm in Orange City, Iowa. Both teams are tied for second in the conference standings with a 4-1 mark.

Northwestern pulls away for 96-87 win over Concordia

3 JAN 2011

Northwestern College pulled away down the stretch to secure a 96-87 men’s basketball win over Concordia on Monday evening. The Red Raiders improved to 12-4 overall and 5-1 in GPAC play with the win. The victory also moved Northwestern into sole possession of second place in the conference standings. Concordia slipped to 10-4 overall and 4-2 in GPAC play with the loss.

The teams traded leads multiple times in the opening eight minutes of the game. With the Bulldogs leading 19-18 with just over 12 minutes remaining in the first half, Northwestern used a 14-0 run to grab a 32-19 lead with just over eight minutes left in half number one.

The Bulldogs rallied and actually claimed a one point lead at 41-40 with 30 seconds remaining in the half. A 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the half gave Northwestern a slim 43-41 halftime lead.

Northwestern held the lead for all but 14 seconds in the second half, but Concordia kept it close. The Raiders led by no more than seven until late in the game. The Bulldogs pulled within three at 77-74 with just over six minutes left in regulation. Ben Miller hit a pair of free throws to give the Raiders a 79-74 lead. Following a made free throw by Concordia’s T.J. Todd (Seaside, Calif.), Mike Vorwald and Ryan Stock connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to give Northwestern an 85-75 advantage. The Raiders built the lead to 14 and settled for the 96-87 win.

Northwestern held an 18-9 advantage in second chance points. The Raiders also held a 39-35 rebounding advantage in the contest. For the game, Northwestern was 35-of-70 (50 percent) from the field. The Raiders were 18-of-34 (52.9 percent) from the floor in the second half. Northwestern was 7-of-20 (35 percent) from deep and 19-of-30 (63.3 percent) from the foul line.

Daniel Van Kalsbeek finished with a game-high 21 points with seven rebounds for the Red Raiders. Ben Miller added 19 points and five assists. Stuart Goslinga went 7-of-8 from the field to finish with 15 points, and Ryan Stock added 13.

Concordia was 25-of-54 (46.3 percent) from the field in the loss. The Bulldogs were 14-of-27 (51.9 percent) from the floor in the second half. Concordia was 8-of-24 (33.3 percent) from long range and 29-of-33 (87.9 percent) from the charity stripe.

Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) finished with team-highs of 18 points and eight rebounds. Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) added 17 points. Barrett Braun (Lakeside, Calif.) had 12 points and seven rebounds, and Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) added 10 for the Bulldogs. Byrd, Concordia’s leading scorer on the season, finished with just three shots in the game. Braun struggled from the field, going 5-of-15 overall and 0-of-8 from deep.

Concordia hosts Dordt College on January 8. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Health, Human Performance and Athletic Center.

Dordt College uses huge second half to knock off Concordia, 92-72

8 JAN 2011

Dordt College erupted for 60 points in the second half and pulled away for a 92-72 men’s basketball win over Concordia University on Saturday evening in Seward. The Bulldogs led by three points at the half, but the Defenders used solid shooting and 42 free throw attempts to secure the win. Dordt improved to 9-7 overall and 2-4 in the GPAC. Concordia dropped to 10-5 overall and 4-3 in the GPAC.

The game remained close throughout the first half. Neither team led by more than six points. A 3-pointer by Dordt’s Bobby Sherwood pulled the visiting Defenders within three (35-32) at halftime.

Dordt opened the second half on an 11-0 run to claim a 43-35 lead with just over 17 minutes left in regulation. Concordia would get as close as six on two occasions, but Dordt held a double digit lead for the rest of the contest.

The Defenders connected on 15-of-25 shots in the second half for an even 60 percent. Dordt was 26-of-33 (78.8 percent) from the foul line in the final 20 minutes and 34-of-42 (81 percent) from the charity stripe for the game. The Defenders held a slim 42-38 rebounding advantage and had 17 assists on 26 made field goals.

Concordia finished the game 26-of-64 (40.6 percent) from the field in the loss. The Bulldogs were 8-of-22 (36.4 percent) from deep and 12-of-17 (70.6 percent) from the foul line. Concordia finished with 19 turnovers and had 15 assists on 26 made field goals.

Trevor Wolterstorff had a big game for the Defenders. He finished with 30 points and seven rebounds on the night, hitting 8-of-16 shots from the field and 13-of-15 shots at the foul line. Cliff Warner added 16 points on 14-of-17 at the charity stripe, and Austin Katje also reached double figures with 11 points.

Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) led four players in double figures for Concordia with 17 points. Huebner was 7-of-11 from the field and added a team-best seven rebounds on the night. T.J. Todd (Seaside, Calif.) added 13 points off the bench, and Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) poured in 11 despite battling foul trouble throughout the game. Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) had 10 points, five rebounds and a game-high eight assists. Byrd struggled from the field, however, hitting just 2-of-12 shots on the night.

Concordia travels to Nebraska Wesleyan on January 12 for a GPAC matchup against the Prairie Wolves. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m. in Lincoln.

Shrum's career night lifts Concordia to 68-55 win over Nebraska Wesleyan

12 JAN 2011

Concordia University senior Ryan Shrum scored a career-high 31 points to help lead the Bulldogs to a 68-55 men’s basketball win over Nebraska Wesleyan on Wednesday evening in Lincoln. The Bulldogs improved to 11-5 overall and 5-3 in GPAC play with the win. The loss dropped NWU to 5-9 overall and 1-6 in conference play.

Shrum (Allen, Texas) scored the first 15 points for Concordia, who quickly built a double digit lead in the opening minutes of the game. Shrum had six 3-pointers in the opening half of play. His sixth make from long range gave the Bulldogs their biggest lead (32-17) with just over two minutes to play in the first half. Concordia took a 33-21 lead into the halftime break. Of Concordia’s 10 made field goals in the opening half, eight came from long range.

Nebraska Wesleyan slowly chipped away at the Concordia lead in the second half. The Prairie Wolves cut the lead to five on multiple occasions, but Shrum and the Bulldogs again had an answer.

With the Bulldogs in front by five at 53-48 with just over five minutes remaining in regulation, Shrum hit another 3-pointer to increase the lead to 56-48. Following a pair of made free throws by NWU, Shrum again hit from deep for a 59-50 Concordia advantage. Two made free throws by Shrum and a basket by Andy Banahan (Steele City, Neb.) increased Concordia’s lead to 13 (63-50) with just over a minute left in the contest. Nebraska Wesleyan would get no closer than nine the rest of the way, and the Bulldogs secured the 68-55 win.

Concordia was 21-of-54 (38.9 percent) from the field overall. The Bulldogs hit 10 3-pointers on the night (eight by Shrum) and finished 10-of-24 from long range for 41.7 percent. Long distance shooting proved to be the difference, as NWU was just 3-of-15 from deep on the night. The Bulldogs were 16-of-22 (72.7 percent) at the foul line.

Shrum finished 9-of-19 from the field (8-of-15 on 3-pointers) for his 31 points. He also added four assists. Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) was the only other Concordia player to reach double figures. He finished with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds. Byrd also handed out four assists in the Concordia win.

Concordia, which had struggled defensively in the previous two games, held Nebraska Wesleyan to just 19-of-63 (30.2 percent) shooting from the field. The Prairie Wolves did hold a 47-38 rebounding advantage in the contest. Nick Dinan scored 12 points, and Bryce Arp added 11 for Nebraska Wesleyan in the loss.

Concordia travels to Dakota Wesleyan on January 16.

Dakota Wesleyan rolls past Concordia, 92-64

16 JAN 2011

Dakota Wesleyan cruised to a 92-64 men’s basketball win over Concordia on Sunday in Mitchell. The Tigers improved to 15-6 overall and 5-5 in the GPAC with the win. Concordia fell to 11-6 overall and 5-4 in GPAC play with the loss. Concordia defeated DWU 82-71 earlier this season, but defense has been an issue lately for the Bulldogs. Concordia has lost three of its last four games and has allowed at least 90 points in each of those losses.

DWU led by double figures for much of the first half. The Tigers led by as many as 22 on two occasions and took a 46-24 lead into halftime. Dakota Wesleyan was 17-of-27 (63 percent) overall and 6-of-8 (75 percent) from long range in the opening half. Concordia was just 7-of-23 (30.4 percent) overall and 3-of-11 (27.3 percent) on 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes.

The Dakota Wesleyan offense continued to shine in the second half, as the Tigers were 16-of-29 (55.2 percent) from the field. DWU led by as many as 31 in the final half and secured the easy 92-64 victory.

The Tigers were 33-of-56 (58.9 percent) from field on the day. DWU was 8-of-13 (61.5 percent) from long range and 18-of-23 (78.3 percent) at the charity stripe. The Tigers held a slim 32-31 rebounding advantage. DWU totaled 19 assists on their 33 made field goals.

Brady Wiebe and Jordan Long scored 15 points apiece, while Larry Swann and Kristopher Wilson poured in 13 apiece for the Tigers in the win.

Concordia managed just 18-of-54 (33.3 percent) shooting in the loss. The Bulldogs were 7-of-21 (33.3 percent) from deep and 21-of-27 (77.8 percent) at the foul line. Concordia totaled just eight assists with 13 turnovers on the day.

Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) scored a game-high 21 points for Concordia in the loss. Byrd was a perfect 6-of-6 from long range and 7-of-14 overall from the field. Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) added a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Concordia will look to get back on track with a home game against Midland University on January 19. Tip is scheduled for 8 p.m. at the Health, Human Performance and Athletic Center.

Shrum and Huebner lead Concordia to blowout of Midland University

19 JAN 2011

Concordia University led 41-17 at halftime and cruised to a 79-56 men’s basketball win over Midland University on Wednesday evening in Seward. The Bulldogs improved to 12-6 overall and 6-4 in conference play with the win. Midland dropped to 5-17 overall and 1-9 in conference play with the loss.

Midland scored the opening basket of the game, but Concordia responded with 11 straight to take an 11-2 lead with less than 13 minutes remaining in the first half. From there, the Bulldogs took complete control of the game. Concordia led by as many as 32 (41-9) with just under two minutes remaining in the half and took the 24-point lead into halftime.

Concordia was 16-of-31 (51.6 percent) from the field in the opening 20 minutes. The Bulldogs totaled 11 assists on their 16 made field goals. Midland was just 6-of-30 (20 percent) overall and 1-of-11 (9.1 percent) from deep in the first half.

The offense continued for Concordia in the second half, as the Bulldogs were 14-of-26 (53.8 percent) from the field. Midland would get no closer than 21 in the final half, and the Bulldogs settled for the 23-point victory.

Concordia was 30-of-57 (52.6 percent) from the field for the night. The Bulldogs were 10-of-25 (40 percent) from long range and 9-of-11 (81.8 percent) at the foul line. Concordia held a 42-30 rebounding advantage and finished with 20 assists on their 30 made field goals.

Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) scored a game-high 18 points for the Bulldogs in the win. Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) scored 17 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds, and Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) added 13 points and five assists. Adam Vogt (Syracuse, Neb.) delivered 11 points, and Charles Dunbar (Florissant, Mo.) chipped in with eight points and eight assists off the bench for Concordia.

Midland was 21-of-61 (34.4 percent) from the field in the loss. The Warriors were just 3-of-22 (13.6 percent) from deep and 11-of-16 (68.8 percent) at the foul line. Zach Rosenboom scored 14 for Midland.

Concordia travels to Briar Cliff on Saturday for a key conference contest against the Chargers

Shipley scores 23 off the bench, leads Briar Cliff to 79-66 win over Concordia

22 JAN 2011

Briar Cliff University pulled away for a 79-66 men’s basketball win over Concordia University on Saturday afternoon in Sioux City. The Chargers improved to 19-4 overall and 8-3 in conference play with the victory. Concordia dropped to 12-7 overall and 6-5 in conference play with the loss.

The first half featured several ties and lead changes. Concordia led by as many as eight, and Briar Cliff led by as many as four in the opening 20 minutes. Concordia’s Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) scored six points in the final minutes of the half, and his jumper with six seconds remaining tied the score at 36-36 heading into halftime.

Both teams shot the ball extremely well in the opening half of play. Briar Cliff was 15-of-26 (57.7 percent), and Concordia was 14-of-28 (50 percent). The Chargers, however, held an advantage in paint points, points off turnovers and bench points. Briar Cliff totaled 16 paint points, 10 points off turnovers and 20 bench points in the opening half. Concordia, on the other hand, had just eight paint points, two points off turnovers and no bench points in the opening 20 minutes.

Briar Cliff used a 15-5 run in the opening minutes of the second half to take a 51-41 lead with just over 12 minutes remaining in the contest. The host Chargers built a 14-point lead (58-44) before Concordia rallied to trim the lead to five (62-57) with just over three minutes to play. BCU had an answer and used solid free throw shooting down the stretch to pull away for the win.

BCU was 26-of-50 (52 percent) from the field and 24-of-30 (80 percent) from the foul line in the victory. The Chargers hit just 3-of-18 (16.7 percent) from beyond the arc but used solid free throw shooting (20-of-24 in the second half) to secure the win. The Chargers held a 34-28 rebounding advantage and totaled just seven turnovers in the game.

Jake Shipley poured in a game-high 23 points off the bench to lead Briar Cliff. Shipley was 5-of-7 from the field and 10-of-12 at the charity stripe. John Engler and James Larson added 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Chargers. Matt Geelan chipped in with eight points, five assists and a game-high 10 rebounds for Briar Cliff.

Following a solid first half of offense (14-of-28 from the field and 6-of-11 from deep), Concordia cooled off in the second half. The Bulldogs were just 12-of-30 overall and 2-of-11 from beyond the arc in the final 20 minutes. For the game, Concordia was 26-of-58 from the field for 44.8 percent.

Huebner had team-highs of 22 points and eight rebounds for Concordia in the loss. Huebner was 10-of-11 from the field, and he also added three blocks. Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) added 13 points. Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) and Barrett Braun (Lakeside, Calif.) added seven points apiece, and Charles Dunbar (Florissant, Mo.) dished out a game-high six assists for the Bulldogs.

Concordia hosts Doane College on January 26. Tip is scheduled for 8 p.m. at the Health, Human Performance and Athletic Center.

Huebner's huge night carries Concordia past Doane in overtime, 86-85

26 JAN 2011

Concordia University avenged an earlier season loss with a big 86-85 overtime win over Doane College on Wednesday evening in Seward. The Bulldogs improved to 13-7 overall and 7-5 in the GPAC with the victory. Concordia is now alone in sixth place in the conference standings. Doane slipped to 11-9 overall and 5-6 in conference play with the loss.

The first half remained close throughout. Doane built an early five point lead and led by as many as seven, while Concordia led by as many as six in the opening half. The visiting Tigers led by one (36-35) at halftime.

Doane was a perfect 50 percent (16-of-32) from the field in the opening half of play, but Concordia stayed in the game with four makes from behind the arc and 7-of-9 shooting at the foul line.

The Tigers again built an early six point lead in the second half, but Concordia continued to keep it close. The second half featured 10 ties, and neither team could pull away. With just over a minute remaining in regulation, Doane took a 75-73 lead on a layup by Taylor Oltjenbruns.

Following a timeout, Concordia tied the game at 75-75 on a layup by Porter Birtell (Madison, Neb.). On Doane’s following possession, Joshua Riser, who caused the Concordia defense trouble all night, scored in the paint to give the Tigers a 77-75 advantage with 15 seconds left in regulation.

Needing a score, Concordia looked to junior point guard Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) to make a play. With just three seconds left, Byrd scored on a tough jumper in the paint to tie the score at 77-77 and send the game to overtime.

“I saw the defense switch, and I knew I had to make a play,” remarked Byrd. “If nothing else, I wanted to at least get to the foul line. They played me tough. I was fortunate to make the shot and send it to overtime.”

The overtime period featured two ties and four lead changes. The Tigers scored the first four points of the period, but as was the case all night, Concordia continued to battle back.

Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) had a huge night and controlled the overtime period, scoring seven of the nine Bulldog points. Huebner’s three point play gave Concordia an 82-81 lead with just under two minutes remaining. Following a pair of Doane College free throws, Byrd hit a jumper to give the Bulldogs an 84-83 advantage with a minute to go.

Following a pair of misses by Doane College, Huebner connected on two free throws to increase the Bulldog lead to three at 86-83 with 10 seconds left in the overtime period. Riser hit two free throws to pull Doane back within a point at 86-85 with five seconds remaining. Concordia missed a pair of free throws in the closing seconds. However, Riser missed a desperation 3-pointer, and Concordia held on for the dramatic win.

“We couldn’t afford to lose this game, and this really starts our week off right,” said Concordia head coach Grant Schmidt. “We still only have one loss at home, and this win gives us a little breathing room over a few teams in the conference standings.”

Concordia finished the game 30-of-62 (48.4 percent) from the field. The Bulldogs were 7-of-21 (33.3 percent) from long range and 19-of-26 (73.1 percent) at the foul line. Concordia completely controlled the glass and held a 45-28 rebounding advantage in the win.

Huebner had a career night with 29 points, 19 rebounds and three blocks in 43 minutes of action. The senior forward was 10-of-13 from the field and 9-of-12 at the foul line. “We were in a little bit of a slump heading into this game, so this is a big win in a rivalry game for us,” said Huebner. “We were angry after our first game against Doane earlier this season, and we really fought hard to get this one tonight.”

Byrd added 21 points, and Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) delivered 12. Porter Birtell, in his first game back from injury, scored nine points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Bulldogs.

Doane was 30-of-64 (46.9 percent) from the field in the loss. The Tigers were 5-of-17 (29.4 percent) from deep and 20-of-25 (80 percent) at the foul line. Doane, however, hit just 1-of-5 shots in the overtime period.

Riser scored a team-best 25 points and added seven assists for the Tigers. Nick Reed and Trent Schlautman added 18 and 15 points. Taylor Oltjenbruns scored 11, and Jake Johnson added 10 for Doane in the loss.

Concordia will take part in the CIT on Friday and Saturday in Michigan.

“Playing in the CIT is all about pride,” added Coach Schmidt. “We want to play well and hopefully build some confidence before we return for the final stretch of conference play.”

Concordia-Chicago hands Bulldogs 71-58 loss at CIT

28 JAN 2011

The Concordia University men’s basketball team suffered a 71-58 loss to Concordia-Chicago in the Concordia Invitational Tournament on Friday afternoon. The Bulldogs dropped to 13-8 on the season with the loss.

The Bulldogs struggled offensively throughout the game, hitting 20-of-60 (33.3 percent) shots overall and just 5-of-24 shots from behind the arc for 20.8 percent. The Bulldogs totaled just seven assists compared to 12 turnovers. The rebounding battle was close, with the Bulldogs holding a slim 40-38 advantage.

The Cougars led by as many as 18 (34-16) in the opening half, using their speed to cause problems for the Bulldogs on both ends of the floor. The Cougars were 14-of-28 from the field in the opening 20 minutes and led by 12 (34-22) at halftime.

The Bulldogs cut the lead to nine on multiple occasions in the second half, but Concordia-Chicago continued to have answers. The Cougars led by double figures for the final 11 minutes of the game and settled for the 71-58 victory.

The Cougars were 26-of-57 (45.6 percent) from the field in the win, including 7-of-16 (43.8 percent) shooting from long range. Jeff Weberg scored a game-high 22 points to lead three players in double figures for Concordia-Chicago. Larrell Gary and Charles Gordon also reached double figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively, for the Cougars.

Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) had a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulldogs in the loss. Barrett Braun (Lakeside, Calif.) was the only other player in double figures with 10 points, while Charles Dunbar (Florissant, Mo.) added nine points off the bench for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs will take on either Concordia-Wisconsin or Concordia-Ann Arbor in the consolation round on Saturday.

Bulldogs fall in CIT consolation game, 86-66

29 JAN 2011

CU-Wisconsin jumped out to a 44-17 halftime lead and cruised to an 86-66 men’s basketball win over Concordia on Saturday afternoon in the consolation round of the Concordia Invitational Tournament. The Bulldogs finished 0-2 in the tournament and dropped to 13-9 on the year with the loss. The Falcons improved to 17-3 on the year with the win.

The Bulldogs were just 4-of-23 (17.4 percent) overall, 1-of-9 (11.1 percent) from behind the arc and 8-of-15 (53.3 percent) from the foul line in the opening half of play. Concordia also turned it over nine times and had just one assist in the opening 20 minutes. CU-Wisconsin, on the other hand, was 13-of-31 (41.9 percent) from the field and 13-of-14 (92.9 percent) at the foul line in the opening half as they built the 44-17 halftime lead.

The second half was more of the same, as CU-Wisconsin led by as many as 41 (69-28) with 13 minutes left to play. The Bulldogs were much better offensively in the second half, but the Falcons coasted to the 20-point win.

CU-Wisconsin was 29-of-63 (46 percent) from the field in the win. The Falcons were 11-of-29 (37.9 percent) from deep and 17-of-20 (85 percent) at the charity stripe. The Falcons also held a 40-33 rebounding advantage and forced 19 Bulldog turnovers on the day.

The Falcons were led by Edward Newton-Kemp’s 24 points. Luke Doedens added 16 points, while Steve Zielinski poured in 10 off the bench for CU-Wisconsin.

Following a brutal first half, the Bulldogs went 17-of-32 (53.1 percent) from the field in the second half. For the game, Concordia was 21-of-55 (38.2 percent) overall and 6-of-21 (28.6 percent) from behind the arc. The Bulldogs were 18-of-26 (69.2 percent) from the foul line.

Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) led the way with 15 points and six rebounds. Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) and Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) each added 11 for the Bulldogs. Huebner was selected to the CIT All-Tournament Team.

Concordia returns to GPAC play on February 2 with a road game at Hastings College.

Byrd's game-winner lifts Concordia past Hastings College, 71-70

3 FEB 2011

Tyler Byrd hit a jumper as time expired to lift Concordia University to a 71-70 men’s basketball win over Hastings College on Wednesday evening. The Bulldogs trailed by as many as 14 in the opening half but rallied for the exciting win. The win moved the Bulldogs to 14-9 overall and 8-5 in conference play. Hastings dropped to 9-15 overall and 5-9 in the GPAC.

There were several ties and lead changes in the opening minutes of the first half. With the game tied 12-12 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the half, Hastings used a 14-0 run to grab a 26-12 lead with six minutes remaining. Concordia finished the half on a 14-7 run, and the Broncos held a 33-26 lead at halftime.

Hastings College scored the opening two baskets in the second half to reclaim a double digit lead at 37-26. However, Concordia hung around and managed to stay within striking distance. The Bulldogs chipped away and took a 50-48 lead with just over 10 minutes to play in regulation.

The teams went back and forth down the stretch. Neither team led by more than three during the final 10 minutes of the game. Hastings took a 64-62 lead on a jumper by Derek Flecher with 2:30 remaining. A minute later, Concordia tied the score at 64-64 on a jumper by Brent Houchin (Bruning, Neb.).

With just 45 seconds left in regulation, Brady Lollman scored to give the Broncos a 68-66 advantage. On Concordia’s next possession, Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) scored and was fouled on the play. His made free throw put Concordia on top by the score of 69-68 with 25 seconds remaining.

With less than 10 seconds remaining, Fletcher was fouled and made both free throws to give Hastings a 70-69 advantage. Charles Dunbar (Florissant, Mo.) missed a jumper in the closing seconds, but Hastings was unable to secure the rebound. Concordia got the ball back with just over a second remaining. Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) caught the inbound pass and hit a jumper from the head of the key as time expired to secure the exciting 71-70 victory for the Bulldogs.

Concordia was 26-of-51 from the field for 51 percent. The Bulldogs connected on 15-of-25 shots in the second half for 60 percent. Concordia was 6-of-16 (37.5 percent) from deep and 13-of-19 (68.4 percent) from the charity stripe.

Porter Birtell (Madison, Neb.) had a big night for the Bulldogs in the win. Birtell scored a game-high 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field. He also added a team-best 11 rebounds. Ryan Shrum scored 14 points, and Byrd added 12 and three assists. Shrum scored 12 of his 14 points, while Byrd scored all 12 of his points in the second half. Dunbar added nine points and a game-high five assists for the Bulldogs.

Hastings was 25-of-61 (41 percent) from the field overall, 8-of-23 (34.8 percent) from deep and 12-of-15 (80 percent) at the foul line. The Broncos held a 35-30 rebounding advantage and grabbed 14 offensive rebounds on the night.

Fletcher scored 23 points to lead the way for the Broncos. Donovan Shultz added 18 points and 12 boards.

Concordia hosts Sioux Falls on Saturday. Tip is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Health, Human Performance and Athletic Center.

Concordia picks up key conference win, 71-66, over Sioux Falls

5 FEB 2011

Concordia University picked up a key 71-66 GPAC men’s basketball win over the University of Sioux Falls on Saturday in Seward. The Bulldogs moved to 15-9 overall and stayed in fourth place in the conference standings at 9-5. Sioux Falls, currently in second place in the GPAC, dropped to 18-7 overall and 10-4 in conference play.

The first half was close throughout. Concordia led by as many as seven, and USF led by as many as five in the opening 20 minutes. Concordia held a narrow 36-34 lead at halftime. Sioux Falls was 14-of-25 from the field for 56 percent in the opening half, but solid free throw shooting kept Concordia in the lead. The Bulldogs were a perfect 9-of-9 at the charity stripe in the opening 20 minutes.

Concordia opened the second half on an 11-1 run to grab a 47-35 lead with 15 minutes to play. Kelly Hubbard had a solid game for USF, and he kept the Cougars in the game. USF chipped away at the Concordia lead and came all the way back to take a 62-58 lead with just under five minutes remaining in regulation.

Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) connected on a pair of free throws to pull the Bulldogs within two at 62-60, and Charles Dunbar (Florissant, Mo.) hit a jumper on the next possession to tie the game at 62-62 with just over three minutes to play.

USF reclaimed the lead on a layup by Skyler Bloch, but Byrd responded with a big 3-pointer to give Concordia a 65-64 lead with less than two minutes remaining. On USF’s next possession, Hubbard scored following an offensive rebound to put the Cougars back on top 66-65. Concordia again answered, however, and Porter Birtell (Madison, Neb.) scored in the paint to put the Bulldogs in front 67-66 with just 50 seconds remaining.

Following a USF miss, Dunbar hit a pair of free throws to increase the Concordia lead to three (69-66) with 20 seconds left in the game. USF looked to answer with a quick score, but Hubbard turned it over to give the ball back to the Bulldogs. Dunbar was again fouled and hit both free throws for the final score of 71-66.

Concordia was 21-of-50 from the field for 42 percent. The Bulldogs went just 5-of-17 (29.4 percent) from deep, but free throw shooting was the story of the game. Both teams were great from the foul line. USF was 14-of-17 for 82.4 percent, but Concordia went 24-of-25 from the line for 96 percent in the victory. USF held a 32-27 rebounding advantage. The Cougars had 11 turnovers, while Concordia turned it over just seven times.

“This certainly was one of our best efforts of the year,” remarked Concordia head coach Grant Schmidt. “We had so many guys play huge roles tonight. To go 24-of-25 at the line and turn it over just seven times in a critical game like this was just huge. We really shook off last week, and the past two wins have been total team efforts.”

Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) scored a team-high 17 points for Concordia. Byrd added 15, and Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) scored 11. Dunbar finished with 16 points and a game-high seven assists off the bench for Concordia in the win.

“We showed a lot of fight, and this was a big win for us today,” said Dunbar. “We focused on defense all week in practice, and we just wanted to build momentum after a big win the other night. We had a tough week last week, but we’re not giving up. We’re focused and ready to play.”

Hubbard scored a game-high 30 points for Sioux Falls on 13-of-20 shooting from the field. Hubbard was the only player in double figures for the Cougars, however, and USF was just 10-of-26 (38.5 percent) from the field in the second half.

Concordia hosts Briar Cliff University on February 9. The Chargers are just ahead of Concordia in the GPAC standings with a 10-5 record. Tip is scheduled for 8 p.m. at the Health, Human Performance and Athletic Center.

Last second score pushes Briar Cliff past Concordia, 59-57

9 FEB 2011

James Larson’s offensive rebound and score in the final second lifted Briar Cliff to a 59-57 men’s basketball win over Concordia University on Wednesday evening in Seward. Concordia trailed by 11 at the half. Their rally in the second half fell just short, as Briar Cliff improved to 22-6 overall and 11-5 in GPAC play. BCU moved up to second in the GPAC standings with the victory. Concordia dropped to 15-10 overall and 9-6 in GPAC play with the loss. The Bulldogs also slipped to fifth place in the GPAC.

Both teams struggled to find rhythm offensively in the opening half. The Chargers led by two (13-11) with 10 minutes remaining in the half. From there, BCU used an 18-7 run over the next eight minutes to grab a 31-18 lead with two minutes left in half one. The Chargers took a 33-22 lead into halftime.

The offensive numbers were not impressive for the Bulldogs in the opening half. Concordia was just 10-of-26 (38.5 percent) overall and 1-of-9 (11.1 percent) from long range in the opening half. Briar Cliff warmed up as the first half went on and finished 14-of-25 from the field for 56 percent.

Concordia quickly erased the Charger lead in the opening minutes of the second half. The Bulldogs used a 16-7 run to pull within two (40-38) with just over 15 minutes remaining. A three-point play by Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) put Concordia back on top (43-42) with 12 minutes to play in regulation.

The Bulldogs led by four on two occasions, but the Chargers hung around. There were multiple ties and lead changes down the stretch. James Larson hit a jumper to give BCU a 57-55 lead with two minutes to play. Following a Concordia turnover and a missed layup by Briar Cliff, Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) scored on a tough layup in the paint to tie the game at 57-57 with just over a minute remaining.

Briar Cliff turned it over on their next possession, giving the ball back to Concordia with 50 seconds left to play. The BCU defense stood strong, however, and forced Concordia into a difficult shot late in the shot clock. Byrd was unable to hit, and Briar Cliff got the ball for the final possession.

Matt Geelan missed a layup. However, Larson came up with an offensive rebound and scored with less than a second remaining. Larson was also fouled on the play and missed the free throw intentionally. The clock expired before Concordia could get a shot off, and the Chargers held on for the dramatic 59-57 win.

Concordia was 22-of-55 (40 percent) from the field in the loss. The Bulldogs hit just 4-of-13 (30.8 percent) attempts from behind the arc but were 9-of-11 at the charity stripe for 81.8 percent).

Porter Birtell (Madison, Neb.) had a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds to lead the way for Concordia. Huebner also scored 13, and Byrd finished with nine and five assists. Brent Houchin (Bruning, Neb.) added eight points off the bench.

Brenton Brown scored a game-high 17 points to lead three players in double figures for the Chargers. Larson finished with 15 off the bench, including the game-winner, and Jake Shipley added 10 for Briar Cliff.

Concordia travels to Morningside College on Saturday for a GPAC contest against the Mustangs.

Concordia fights off Morningside College, 81-78

12 FEB 2011

Concordia University rallied for a key 81-78 men’s basketball win over Morningside College on Saturday in Sioux City. It was the first win for Concordia over the Mustangs in Sioux City since the 2003-04 season. The Bulldogs improved to 16-10 overall and moved into a tie for fourth place in the GPAC standings with a 10-6 mark. Morningside slipped to 12-16 overall and 8-8 in the GPAC.

The game remained tight through much of the first half, but Morningside eventually built a 12-point lead (34-22) with around five minutes remaining. Concordia closed the first half strong, and a 3-pointer by Brent Houchin (Bruning, Neb.) pulled the Bulldogs within six (39-33) at halftime.

Concordia opened the second half on an 11-5 run to tie the game at 44-44 with over 16 minutes remaining. From there, Concordia used a 15-3 run to grab their biggest lead of the game, and a three point play by Porter Birtell (Madison, Neb.) gave Concordia a 59-47 advantage with less than 11 minutes left in the game.

Morningside wasn’t done, however, and the Mustangs responded with a 20-7 run of their own to reclaim the lead at 67-66 with just under four minutes left in regulation. A 3-pointer by Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) put Concordia back in front for good at 69-67 with just over three minutes to play.

The Bulldogs built the lead to seven (76-69) before Morningside cut the lead to two on multiple occasions in the closing minutes of the game. The Bulldogs struggled from the foul line down the stretch but held on for the 81-78 victory.

Concordia was 26-of-61 from the field on the night for 42.6 percent. Following a tough first half, the Bulldogs were 13-of-25 (52 percent) from the field in the second half. Concordia was 9-of-18 from deep, and five players hit from behind the arc in the win. Concordia was just 20-of-36 at the foul line for 55.6 percent. The Bulldogs held a 46-34 rebounding advantage.

Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) led four Concordia players in double figures with 16 points. Birtell finished with a double-double of 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, while Shrum also delivered 14 points. Barrett Braun (Lakeside, Calif.) poured in 13 points, and Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) dished out six assists in the Bulldog win.

Morningside was led by Trent Miller’s game-high 17 points and seven assists. Danny Rudeen added 15 points, and Bryan Borchers had 13 points and 10 boards. Garth Hamilton also had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Cory Gaston also reached double figures for the Mustangs with 10 points.

Concordia hosts Nebraska Wesleyan on Wednesday evening. Tip is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Senior Night at the Health, Human Performance and Athletic Center.

Nebraska Wesleyan spoils Senior Night with 70-55 win over Concordia

16 FEB 2011

Nebraska Wesleyan picked up a 70-55 men’s basketball win over Concordia on Wednesday evening in Seward. The Prairie Wolves improved to 9-15 overall and 5-12 in conference play. It was a disappointing loss for Concordia, as the Bulldogs are battling for a higher seed in the upcoming GPAC Tournament. Concordia slipped to 16-11 overall and 10-7 in the GPAC with the loss. The Bulldogs are now fifth in the conference standings with one game remaining in the regular season.

Concordia led by as many as four on multiple occasions in the first half, but offensive struggles caught up with the Bulldogs as the half progressed. A late 12-4 run over the final few minutes of the first half gave the visiting Prairie Wolves a 35-27 halftime lead. Concordia was 12-of-28 overall from the field but just 2-of-11 from beyond the arc in the opening half of play.

Wesleyan maintained the lead throughout the second half. Concordia got as close as four, but NWU continued to have answers. The Prairie Wolves reclaimed a double-digit lead (57-47) with just under five minutes remaining in the contest. Nebraska Wesleyan led by as many as 16 down the stretch and settled for the 70-55 win.

Points were tough to come by, as Concordia struggled from the field throughout the contest. The Bulldogs turned it over 12 times and finished 22-of-56 from the field for 39.3 percent. Concordia also struggled from deep and at the foul line, connecting on just 5-of-18 (27.8 percent) 3-point attempts and 6-of-12 free throws. Wesleyan also held a 37-35 rebounding advantage.

Nebraska Wesleyan was 29-of-61 (47.5 percent) overall and 4-of-10 from behind the arc in the win. The Prairie Wolves broke down Concordia’s press and scored several easy baskets in transition late in the game. Nick Dinan and Mitch Liberty poured in 13 points apiece for NWU. Dinan also added a game-high five assists for the Prairie Wolves.

Porter Birtell (Madison, Neb.) scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Concordia in a losing effort. Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) added 15 points and four assists, while Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds for the Bulldogs. Huebner, Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) and Andy Banahan (Steele City, Neb.) played in their final regular season home games for the Bulldogs.

Concordia travels to Mount Marty College on Saturday to conclude the regular season

Bulldogs struggle from the field in 52-51 loss to Mount Marty

19 FEB 2011

Offensive struggles continued to plague Concordia University in a 52-51 men’s basketball loss at Mount Marty on Saturday. The Bulldogs dropped to 16-12 overall and 10-8 in the GPAC, while Mount Marty improved to 9-19 overall and 7-11 in conference play.

Mount Marty held a 28-24 lead at halftime. The Bulldogs were fortunate to be in the game after a rough first half of shooting. Concordia was just 7-of-27 (25.9 percent) overall and 4-of-13 (30.8 percent) from deep in the opening 20 minutes. Mount Marty, on the other hand, was 11-of-19 (57.9 percent) from the field in the first half of play.

Concordia rallied to take a 38-37 lead with just over 12 minutes remaining in the contest. The host Lancers responded with a quick 10-2 run to take a 47-40 lead with under eight minutes left. The Bulldogs kept within striking distance, and a basket by Porter Birtell (Madison, Neb.) tied the score at 51-51 with just over one minute remaining in the contest.

Mount Marty missed a 3-point attempt on the next possession, but Concordia was unable to capitalize. Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) missed a shot with around 20 seconds remaining, and Mount Marty got the rebound and a chance at the final shot. With just a few seconds remaining, Mount Marty’s Stephen Klekas was fouled. He went 1-of-2 at the charity stripe to give the Lancers a slim 52-51 lead. Concordia turned the ball over in the closing seconds, and Mount Marty secured the victory.

Both teams struggled offensively in the final half. After a solid opening half, Mount Marty went just 10-of-27 (37 percent) from the field in the second half. Concordia was just 12-of-31 (38.7 percent) overall and 1-of-7 (14.3 percent) from deep in the final half. For the game, Concordia was 19-of-58 (32.8 percent) overall and 5-of-20 (25 percent) from long range. Mount Marty also held a 38-31 rebounding advantage in the contest.

Jared Wall had game-highs of 13 points and eight rebounds to lead the way for Mount Marty. Klekas was the only other player in double figures for the Lancers with 11 points.

Birtell scored a team-high 12 points for Concordia. However, Birtell was just 6-of-15 from the field on what was a cold shooting night for the Bulldogs. Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) also reached double figures with 10, but the senior was just 2-of-11 overall and 2-of-9 from behind the arc. Byrd added nine points on the night. The Bulldog bench contributed just six points in the contest.

The GPAC Tournament pairings will be released on Saturday evening.

Midland University upsets Concordia in opening round of GPAC Tournament

22 FEB 2011

Midland University pulled an upset Tuesday evening and defeated Concordia 81-66 in the first round of the GPAC men’s basketball tournament. The Warriors improved to 8-23 on the year and will face Dakota Wesleyan on Thursday evening. Concordia finished the year at 16-13.

The first half featured seven ties. Concordia led by as many as three, and Midland led by as many as six in the opening 20 minutes. The Warriors, however, scored six of the last eight points of the half and took a 35-31 lead into halftime. Both teams struggled offensively in the opening half. Midland was just 11-of-34 (32.4 percent), while Concordia was 8-of-24 (33.3 percent) from the field. Concordia also had eight turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.

Midland scored the opening basket of the second half to grab a 37-31 lead, but Concordia scored the next eight points to take a 39-37 lead. With the game tied at 40-40, Midland’s Marcus Messersmith hit back-to-back 3-pointers to swing the momentum and give the Warriors a 46-40 lead with just over 16 minutes remaining.

The Warriors led the rest of the way and turned several Concordia miscues into easy baskets. Midland had three fast break dunks off of Bulldog turnovers, and the Warriors quickly established a double digit lead.

Concordia cut the Midland lead to five (56-51) with less than 10 minutes remaining, but the Warriors again responded with a run to built the lead back to double digits. The Warriors led by as many as 20 in the second half and cruised to the 81-66 win.

Midland was 23-of-62 (37.1 percent) from the field on the night. The Warriors were 7-of-27 (25.9 percent) from deep and 28-of-35 (80 percent) at the foul line. The Warriors held a 44-37 rebounding advantage and forced 16 Bulldog turnovers.

Messersmith led the way with a game-high 27 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field. He hit four 3-pointers and was 9-of-11 at the foul line. P.J. Mallette scored 12, while Alex Knobbe added 11 points, seven assists and seven rebounds. Zach Rosenboom had a game-high 11 boards for the Warriors.

Concordia was just 19-of-52 (36.5 percent) from the field in the loss. The Bulldogs hit just three shots from deep on the night and were 25-of-34 (73.5 percent) at the foul line.

Porter Birtell (Madison, Neb.) scored a team-best 14 in a losing effort. Birtell was 4-of-6 from the field and 6-of-8 at the foul line. He also added seven rebounds. Sam Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) added 13 points, and Ryan Shrum (Allen, Texas) scored 12. Charles Dunbar (Florissant, Mo.) delivered 10 points off the bench for the Bulldogs.

Byrd and Huebner highlight GPAC All-Conference Team

2 MAR 2011

A total of four Concordia University men’s basketball players received conference honors, as the 2010-11 All-Conference Team was announced on Wednesday. Tyler Byrd was a first team selection, while Sam Huebner was named to the second team. Porter Birtell and Ryan Shrum were honorable mention selections for the Bulldogs.

Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) had an impressive junior season for the Bulldogs. He was second on the team with 13 points per game and easily led the team with 107 assists and 36 steals. He averaged 36.1 minutes per game which was also a team-high. Byrd had a game-winning shot to lead Concordia past Hastings College on the road. He was also named GPAC Player-of-the-Week following solid performances against Grace University and Morningside College early in the season.

Huebner (Aurora, Colo.) finished his Concordia career in style, as he led the team with 14 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. He shot over 50 percent from the field and was second on the team with 63 assists. Defensively, he was second on the team with 21 steals and easily led the team with 38 blocks. He had a career night with 29 points and 19 rebounds, as Concordia defeated Doane College in January. He was named to both the Cattle Classic and CIT All-Tournament Teams. Huebner fell just short of 1,000 points in his Bulldog career.

Birtell (Madison, Neb.) played in 22 games with 18 starts during his sophomore campaign. Despite injury problems during the middle of the season, Birtell finished fourth on the team in scoring (11.5 points per game) and second in rebounding (6.4 rebounds per game). He shot a team-best 58.9 percent from the field (103-of-175).

Shrum (Allen, Texas) appeared in all 29 games for Concordia in his senior season. He finished third on the team with 12.4 points per game. He also averaged 34.2 minutes per game to rank second on the team. He hit 74 3-pointers on the season to lead the team. Shrum hit eight 3-pointers and scored a career-high 31 points to lead the Bulldogs past Nebraska Wesleyan in January. He was named to the Cattle Classic All-Tournament Team.

Concordia finished the season with a 16-13 overall record. The Bulldogs were 10-8 in conference play.

Men's Basketball