2018-19 Men's Basketball Schedule/Results

15-16 overall | 7-13 GPAC (8th) | Season Stats | Roster

Date	Opponent	Location	Time/Result	Record
Oct. 29	Kansas Wesleyan University	Seward, Neb.	W, 70-59	1-0
Nov. 2	(25) St. Thomas University (Fla.)	Seward, Neb.	W, 79-60	2-0
Nov. 3	Barclay College (Kan.)	Seward, Neb.	W, 97-62	3-0
Nov. 6	*Midland University	Fremont, Neb.	L, 72-78	3-1, 0-1
Nov. 10	*(10) Briar Cliff University	Sioux City, Iowa	L, 64-81	3-2, 0-2
Nov. 14	*Hastings College	Seward, Neb.	W, 92-87 (OT)	4-2, 1-2
Nov. 17	*University of Jamestown	Seward, Neb.	L, 61-74	4-3, 1-3
Nov. 19	Waldorf University	Forest City, Iowa	W, 75-72	5-3
Nov. 20	University of North Dakota (Exhibition)	Grand Forks, N.D.	L, 56-89
Nov. 24	Peru State College	Peru, Neb.	W, 77-71	6-3
Nov. 28	*(2) Morningside College	Seward, Neb.	L, 70-77	6-4, 1-4
Dec. 1	Nebraska Christian College	Seward, Neb.	W, 94-67	7-4
Dec. 5	*Doane University	Crete, Neb.	L, 52-65	7-5, 1-5
Dec. 8	*Mount Marty College	Seward, Neb.	L, 69-70	7-6, 1-6
Dec. 15	*(18) Dakota Wesleyan University	Mitchell, S.D.	L, 56-105	7-7, 1-7
Dec. 28	(12) Arizona Christian University	Phoenix, Ariz.	L, 71-85	7-8
Dec. 29	MacEwan University (Canada)	Phoenix, Ariz.	W, 70-64	8-8
Jan. 2	*Dordt College	Sioux Center, Iowa	L, 73-91	8-9, 1-8
Jan. 5	*Northwestern College	Seward, Neb.	L, 59-76	8-10, 1-9
Jan. 9	*Hastings College	Hastings, Neb.	W, 87-84	9-10, 2-9
Jan. 12	*(7) Briar Cliff University	Seward, Neb.	W, 102-92	10-10, 3-9
Jan. 16	*Midland University	Seward, Neb.	W, 66-51	11-10, 4-9
Jan. 19	*(21) University of Jamestown	Jamestown, N.D.	L, 68-95	11-11, 4-10
Jan. 23	*Doane University	Seward, Neb.	W, 70-53	12-11, 5-10
	Concordia Invitational Tournament
Jan. 25	Concordia University, Wisconsin	Ann Arbor, Mich.	L, 70-86	12-12
Jan. 26	Concordia University, Chicago	Ann Arbor, Mich.	W, 77-69	13-12
Jan. 30	*Dordt College	Seward, Neb.	W, 72-69	14-12, 6-10
Feb. 2	*Northwestern College	Orange City, Iowa	L, 64-79	14-13, 6-11
Feb. 6	*(2) Morningside College	Sioux City, Iowa	L, 64-79	14-14, 6-12
Feb. 9	*(18) Dakota Wesleyan University	Seward, Neb.	L, 63-68	14-15, 6-13
Feb. 16	*Mount Marty College	Yankton, S.D.	W, 84-79	15-15, 7-13
	GPAC Tournament
Feb. 20	(2) Morningside (Quarterfinals)	Sioux City, Iowa	L, 74-97	15-16

2018-19 Roster

No.	Varsity Roster	Pos.	Ht.	Year	Hometown	Previous School
2	Chance Sterling	F	6-5	Fr.	Gretna, Neb.	Gretna HS
3	Brevin Sloup	G	5-9	Jr.	Seward, Neb.	Seward HS
4	Nick Cito	G	5-10	Fr.	Arvada, Colo.	Mullen HS
5	Carter Kent	G	6-2	Fr.	Crete, Neb.	Crete HS
10	Justin Wiersema	G	6-3	Fr.	Loveland, Colo.	Thompson Valley HS
11	Zach Auguste	F	6-7	Jr.	Queen Creek, Ariz.	Queen Creek HS / Scottsdale CC
12	Grant Wragge	G	6-2	So.	Crofton, Neb.	Crofton HS
14	Nate Middleton	G	5-9	Fr.	San Marcos, Calif.	Mount Carmel HS
20	Tanner Wubbels	F	6-7	Fr.	Waverly, Neb.	Waverly HS
21	Tanner Shuck	G/F	6-4	Jr.	Grand Island, Neb.	Grand Island HS
30	Chuol Biel	F	6-8	Jr.	Grand Island, Neb.	McCook CC
32	Ryan Holt	F	6-5	So.	Highlands Ranch, Colo.	ThunderRidge HS
41	Gage Smith	G/F	6-5	Fr.	Elizabeth, Colo.	Elizabeth HS
44	Klay Uher	F	6-5	Fr.	Crete, Neb.	Crete HS
50	Logan Eaker	F	6-7	Fr.	Roswell, N.M.	Roswell HS
55	Samuel Adjei	F	6-7	Jr.	Accra, Ghana	Redemption Christian / Miramar CC
	Riley Tegtmeier	G	6-0	Jr.	Davenport, Neb.	Bruning-Davenport-Shickley HS
No.	Junior Varsity Roster	Pos.	Ht.	Year	Hometown	Previous School
10	Nate Middleton	G	5-9	Fr.	San Marcos, Calif.	Mount Carmel HS
12	Lane Huebert	G	6-2	Fr.	Bradshaw, Neb.	Heartland HS
14	Nick Cito	G	5-10	Fr.	Arvada, Colo.	Mullen HS
20	Klay Uher	F	6-5	Fr.	Crete, Neb.	Crete HS
22	Ian Guettler	G	5-11	Fr.	Tomball, Texas	Tomball HS
23	Jaidon Policky	G	5-11	Fr.	Milford, Neb.	Milford HS
24	Cristiaan Priebe	G/F	6-5	So.	Lake Tapps, Wash.	Central Washington
30	Thomas Young	G	6-1	So.	Clarks, Neb.	High Plains HS
32	Jacob Jennings	G	6-1	Jr.	Shawnee, Kan.	De Soto HS
34	Jacob Emily	F	6-7	Fr.	St. Peters, Mo.	St. Charles Lutheran HS
40	Gage Smith	G/F	6-5	Fr.	Elizabeth, Colo.	Elizabeth HS
42	Christian Wilke	F	6-6	Fr.	Lincoln, Neb.	Lincoln East HS
44	Chance Sterling	F	6-5	Fr.	Gretna, Neb.	Gretna HS
50	Logan Eaker	F	6-7	Fr.	Roswell, N.M.	Roswell HS

STAFF

Ben Limback, Head Coach (6th Year)

Lance Korell, Assistant Coach

Brendon Boomsma, Graduate Assistant Coach

Kyler Hensel, Manager

Jon Simonson, Manager

Brandon Timoney, Manager

Anthony Wolter, Manager

Season preview: 2018-19 Concordia men's basketball

Oct. 19, 2018

2017-18 Record: 17-13 overall, 8-10 GPAC (6th)
Head Coach: Ben Limback (at Concordia: 80-71, five years; career: 195-229, 14 years)
Returning Starter: Tanner Shuck (Jr.).
Other Key Returners: G Riley Tegtmeier (Jr.); G Brevin Sloup (Jr.).
Key Newcomers: F Samuel Adjei (Jr.); F Zach Auguste (Jr.); F Chuol Biel (Jr.); G Carter Kent (Fr.); G Justin Wiersema (Fr.); F Tanner Wubbels (Fr.).
Key Losses: F Zach Friel; G Cordell Gillingham; G Jake Hornick; G Chris Johnstone; G/F Kyle Pierce; F Clay Reimers.
2017-18 GPAC All-Conference: Jake Hornick (second team); Clay Reimers (second team); Cordell Gillingham (honorable mention); Tanner Shuck (honorable mention).

Outlook
Those not familiar with the transformation within the program will need to have the roster handy when the Concordia University men’s basketball team opens up the 2018-19 season. Things are going to look different, but that has not deterred the anticipation for the sixth season of head coach Ben Limback’s tenure at his alma mater.

This has been an important preseason considering the wealth of new faces. The key figures back in place are juniors Tanner Shuck and Brevin Sloup, two experienced competitors best known for their abilities on the offensive end of the floor. They will be expected to lead a group that will have to grow at an accelerated pace.

“I feel like there’s a relentless work ethic,” Limback said. “Our theme this year is growth. The idea of getting better every day is so important, especially with a lot of young guys. I’ve been refreshed by their desire to learn and get better every day. I’m impressed with the depth of this team. There are days where that third team wins some of the drills and really competes. That’s what you want to see. When the lights come on and it’s game day, they need to get used to that competition.”

Shuck is the lone returning starter in a lineup that figures to be heavy on newcomers. A native of Grand Island, Neb., Shuck is one of the few holdovers that played alongside All-American Chandler Folkerts on the 2016-17 squad that won 21 games. In two seasons as a Bulldog, Shuck has poured in 152 3-point field goals (41.2 percent) and 705 points, putting him on track to become the program’s newest 1,000-point club member. He’s now physically stronger and focused on rounding out his game.

Part of Shuck’s role as the team’s most experienced player is to embrace opportunities to be a leader. Sometimes that means slowing down practice to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Says Shuck, “There are a lot of new guys. With that comes some teaching times where we have to go through things that we don’t even think about anymore as older guys. It’s more natural. It’s a little bit slower sometimes, but those guys have picked up a lot. We’ve had to pick some stuff up too. You have to stay positive and give energy. Those are some of the best ways to really get them into it. They’ve come along well.”

Shuck and Sloup have become close friends as two of the team’s elder statesmen. Sloup averaged 4.5 points while appearing in all 30 games last season. That average is likely to go up for the Seward High School product, who has a knack for making difficult shots. Even Shuck admits that he’s not sure he could take Sloup and a game of horse.

Sloup is one option at the point guard. You can also throw freshmen like Nick Cito, Nate Middleton and Carter Kent and perhaps even sophomore Grant Wragge into the mix. Kent, a 6-foot-2 product of Crete High School, possesses exciting potential. He totaled more than 1,100 points in his prep career with the Cardinals. Meanwhile, Wragge is an effort guy who also happens to have talent. He has the pedigree with his father Mark having been a standout on the hardwood at Doane.

In the frontcourt, everything is brand new. In order to have a successful season, Concordia will have to get production out of its group of transfers, which includes Sammy Adjei (San Diego Miramar College), Zach Auguste (Scottsdale CC) and Chuol Biel (McCook CC). All three look the part. Each one stands either 6-foot-7 or 6-foot-8. Adjei has experience at the NAIA level having played his freshman season at Corban University (Ore.). The trio will help make this a taller and longer team than the 2017-18 one.

“The three transfers all have different style of games,” Limback said. “Zach is a physical bruiser, sets great screens and has a tremendous motor and great leadership skills. We’re expecting great things out of him. Choul is just very gifted athletically and is super long. His rebounding is very strong at both ends of the floor. He has the ability to finish as well. Sammy is probably one of our most skilled players. He is still trying to find that consistency and master the details of the game.”

The list of newcomers who will be granted opportunities carries on. Some other names to watch out for are freshmen Justin Wiersema, Tanner Wubbels and Klay Uher (another Crete HS graduate). Additionally, 6-foot-5 sophomore Ryan Holt has a chance to see more court time after appearing in eight varsity games in 2017-18. As far as junior Riley Tegtmeier, the hope is that the pain in his cranky back will subside for him to make a return to full health at some point this winter. If and when that happens, Tegtmeier will jump into the rotation.

Taking all of the new faces into account, one would be hard pressed to try to predict exactly how this season will pan out. The Bulldogs are not expecting a lot of preseason hype after placing sixth in the GPAC last season and then showing up this semester with very few players who have earned their stripes in Concordia navy and white.

Says Limback, “There are so many new pieces. Some days we struggle with certain things and other days we look tremendous. I think that’s just part of the bumps and the bruises that we go through at times with so many new pieces.”

Ultimately, the goal is working towards ending a national tournament drought that has endured since the program reached the national championship game in 2005. Just when it appears the Bulldogs are getting close, the rug seemingly has been pulled out from underneath them. The 2016-17 team had a national tournament feel to it by late in the season, but came up short in a solid campaign.

This is a proud program that has churned out big-time performers such as Limback himself, Folkerts, John Puelz, Devin Smith, Jon Ziegler and many others. The door is wide open for the next Bulldog great to emerge.

“Our execution and consistency of things isn’t always there, but the guys are bringing their lunch pails on a daily basis to go to work,” Limback said. “Now we have to put that execution with it if we want to do some great things in the GPAC.”

The season will officially tip off on Monday, Oct. 29 when Kansas Wesleyan University visits Walz Arena. Concordia will be at home three times during the opening week of the 2018-19 campaign.

Concordia slotted at No. 10 in GPAC men's hoops preseason poll

Oct. 22, 2018

GPAC preseason poll

SEWARD, Neb. – Following a sixth-place GPAC finish in 2017-18, the Concordia University men’s basketball team has been pegged to slide back a few spots. In the GPAC men’s basketball preseason coaches’ poll released on Monday (Oct. 22), the Bulldogs checked in 10th out of the 11 teams with 17 points.

The low ranking likely has to do with the fact that Concordia returns only sharpshooter Tanner Shuck from its 2017-18 starting lineup. A 6-foot-4 wing from Grand Island, Neb., Shuck averaged 13.0 points last season for a Bulldog squad that finished at 17-13 overall (8-10 GPAC). Head coach Ben Limback’s program also welcomes back juniors Brevin Sloup and Riley Tegtmeier. It will be reliant upon a large group of transfers and freshmen to fill in the gaps.

With Jamestown added to the GPAC this season, the league schedule will expand from 18 to 20 games this winter. Twenty conference games had been the norm prior to the subtraction of Nebraska Wesleyan from the league. Over the past four years, Limback has led Concordia to at least eight GPAC victories each season. The high-water mark for overall wins during that stretch was 21 in 2016-17. The program’s most recent conference championship was a tournament title in 2005.

The season will officially open up next Monday (Oct. 29) with Kansas Wesleyan University paying a visit to Walz Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT.

2018-19 GPAC Preseason Poll
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1. Morningside – 100 (10)
2. Briar Cliff – 90 (1)
3. Dakota Wesleyan – 83
4. Doane – 69
5. Dordt – 56
T6. Northwestern – 46
T6. Hastings – 46
T6. Midland – 46
9. Jamestown – 40
10. Concordia – 17
11. Mount Marty – 12

New-look Bulldogs to tip off season on Monday

Oct. 26, 2018

SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University men’s basketball team will feature juniors Tanner Shuck and Brevin Sloup and then a whole lot of new faces on Monday when the 2018-19 season tips off. The Bulldogs will go head-to-head with Kansas Wesleyan University in the season opener, which is set for a 7 p.m. CT tipoff inside Walz Arena. The Bulldogs also began the 2017-18 campaign against the Coyotes and came away with a 75-72 win in Salina, Kan.

The contest will be carried live by 104.9 Max Country radio and by the Concordia Sports Network. Tyler Cavalli is back to again serve as play-by-play broadcaster.

Head coach Ben Limback’s squad was picked 10th in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll after placing sixth last season. Shuck is a proven commodity on the wing. The marksmen from Grand Island, Neb., begins his junior campaign having totaled 705 points and 152 3-point field goals over his first two seasons as a Bulldog. Shuck averaged 13.0 points per game last season and could be in for an even bigger year. He and Seward High School product Brevin Sloup give Concordia solid offensive options on the perimeter.

The frontcourt saw the most transitioning. At times this year, Limback could use three transfers along the front line with the likes of Sammy Adjei (Miramar CC), Zach Auguste (Scottsdale CC) and Chuol Biel (McCook CC). Sophomore Ryan Holt, a 6-foot-5 native of Highlands Ranch, Colo., got his feet wet on varsity as a freshman and could also factor into the mix. In the backcourt, freshman Carter Kent of Crete High School has a chance to make an immediate impact.

Kansas Wesleyan, 16-13 overall in 2017-18, has more familiarity within its roster. The Coyotes return nine letter winners from last season. In the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference polls, head coach Anthony Monson’s squad was picked third by the coaches and fourth by the media (out of 13 teams). Kansas Wesleyan got a big boost from the return of post player Jordan McNelly, who did not compete in the second semester last season. In his first 12 games, he averaged 16.3 points and 7.9 rebounds. He scored 25 in the meeting with Concordia last October.

The Bulldogs will play three times as part of their opening week. They will also play host to the 19th annual Cattle Classic (Nov. 2-3). Opponents at the Cattle Classic will be 25th-ranked St. Thomas University (Fla.) and Barclay College (Kan.).

New look Bulldogs claim win in season opener

Oct. 29, 2018

SEWARD, Neb. – Even head coach Ben Limback wasn’t exactly sure what it would look like in game No. 1 of the 2018-19 season. Familiar faces Tanner Shuck and Brevin Sloup helped carry the Concordia University men’s basketball team offensively while the energy brought by a host of newcomers proved refreshing. It all added up to a 70-59 victory over Kansas Wesleyan University inside Walz Arena on Monday night (Oct. 29).

This marks the second season in a row that the Bulldogs have opened up with a win over the Coyotes of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. Four of the eight players used by Limback made their debuts in Concordia navy and white.

“You don’t know what to expect that first game out,” Limback said. “I really was impressed and pleased with our guys and their stick-to-it-ive-ness. We weren’t pretty at times and certainly turned the ball over way too many times in this game. A lot of that is just jelling and figuring things out, but I’m really proud. Tanner Wubbels gave us some great minutes off the bench and Brevin hit some big shots and big free throws there.”

The season opener was tight throughout the evening until the Bulldogs found some breathing room late in the second half. Up 53-51 with seven minutes remaining, Concordia went on an 8-0 spurt initiated by a Sloup trey and finished by a Shuck three-point play. That duo combined to drop 22 points in the second half that saw the Bulldogs begin to put things together offensively.

Sloup knocked in four free throws in the final 1:28 and McCook Community College transfer Chuol Biel punctuated the win with a one-handed throw down in the final minute. It was an encouraging opener for a Concordia team picked 10th in the GPAC preseason poll.

“It was pretty sloppy, we had a lot of turnovers and gave up some offensive rebounds,” Sloup said. “But I think the thing that won us the game was just our effort. I think we truly outworked the other team tonight and got it done … "If you give me guys that play hard like that, I'll go out to battle with them every single night.”

Sloup and company were able to overcome 19 turnovers and 18 offensive rebounds for Kansas Wesleyan by digging in defensively. The Bulldogs limited standout Coyote post player Jordan McNelly to eight points on 3-for-11 shooting. As a team, Kansas Wesleyan shot only 35.3 percent (24-for-68) compared to 52.1 percent (25-for-48) shooting by Concordia.

Now play a leading role, Sloup dropped in a team high 19 points on 5-for-12 shooting (6-for-6 from the free throw line). He added five assists and four rebounds. Shuck backed him up with 15 points, four assists, four rebounds and two steals.

In his first action as a Bulldog, Zach Auguste (nine points, nine rebounds) just missed a double-double. Biel, Carter Kent and Wubbels (seven points, four rebounds) also made their first appearances for Concordia. Off the bench, Grant Wragge contributed seven points, six rebounds and three steals.

“Overall I was more pleased with the second half,” Limback said. “We got to the bonus first and were a little more aggressive. Any time you can come away with a win and learn a lot of great lessons it’s beneficial.”

Darius Hammond of Kansas Wesleyan led all players with 21 points (8-for-16 from the floor). James Brooks put up 10 points but was just 4-for-14 on field goal attempts.

The home swing to begin the season will continue this weekend when the 19th annual Cattle Classic unfolds inside Walz Arena. In Friday’s action, the Bulldogs will take on No. 25 St. Thomas University (Fla.) at 8 p.m. CT. The Cattle Classic raises money and food for the Blue Valley Community Action’s Food Pantry. For more details on the event, click HERE.

Concordia dominates second half, knocks off No. 25 St. Thomas

Nov. 2, 2018

SEWARD, Neb. – The focus on recruiting size and length this past offseason is already paying off for the Concordia University men’s basketball team. Just two games into the 2018-19 season, the Bulldogs have already claimed a signature nonconference victory. In the final contest of the opening day at the 19th annual Cattle Classic on Friday evening (Nov. 2), Concordia upset 2018 national tournament qualifier and 25th-ranked St. Thomas University (Fla.), 79-60.

This was an early season confidence builder for head coach Ben Limback’s squad. The Bulldogs are 2-0 having also beaten Kansas Wesleyan University four days earlier.

“I’m speechless tonight. There’s been a lot of work put in with these guys,” Limback said. “We know we have a long ways to go. There’s stuff we have to continue to improve on. Just to know that the guys have bought in and are working hard towards a common goal is huge. I hope that continues.”

Concordia found itself down 10 with less than six minutes remaining in the second half. It was stunningly dominant the rest of the way. The Bulldogs put the clamps on their opponent for the second outing in a row. The treys that were dropping early for the Bobcats (0-1) weren’t there in the second half. Spurred by Tanner Shuck, Concordia went to the locker room on a 17-4 run. During which, Shuck went for three the old-fashioned way and then went to the perimeter and drained a three.

The production from veterans like Shuck and Brevin Sloup was needed, but so too was the size inside of transfers Zach Auguste and Chuol Biel. In terms of sheer size, St. Thomas is one of the most physically imposing teams the Bulldogs will see all season. Auguste went toe-to-toe with them by notching 16 points and nine rebounds while Biel (six points, five rebounds) looks to be the team’s top low-post defender. Together they helped the home team win the rebound category, 38-33.

“I had a lot of help,” Auguste said. “Our guards put a lot of pressure on the ball so that it was hard to get the post feed in. That helped tremendously.”

The Bobcats shot just 29.4 percent in the second half (32.8 percent from the game) while having fits with a Concordia team that went deeper off the bench on this night. Just to kick the Bobcats when they were down, Sloup threw in some deep triples and Shuck powered in a posterization of a slam that even he didn’t know he had in the arsenal.

Shuck and Sloup equaled a game high with 19 points apiece. Crete native Carter Kent added 10 points, eight rebounds and six assists. On the other side, Justin Brown led the way with 18 points (5-for-7 3-point shooting). Brown was hot early on when St. Thomas built a first-half advantage.

Now Concordia has to build upon this victory. Though early in the year, GPAC play is just around the corner. Said Limback, “We outplayed them in a lot of stretches. I thought that consistent effort and just sticking together as a team was the biggest difference.”

Friday’s victory marked the program’s first over a team that was ranked at the time of tipoff since the Bulldogs topped then seventh-ranked Dakota Wesleyan in overtime, 109-106, in a classic affair back in February 2017.

Concordia will close the Cattle Classic on Saturday by hosting Barclay College (Kan.) at 5 p.m. CT. The Bears were routed by Hastings, 118-72, in a Friday afternoon tilt inside Walz Arena. Barclay is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association.

Bulldogs complete 3-0 opening week with win over Barclay

Nov. 3, 2018

SEWARD, Neb. – Consider the first week of the 2018-19 season a smashing success for the Concordia University men’s basketball team. The Bulldogs completed a sweep of the home stand by routing visiting Barclay College (Kan.), 97-62, on Saturday (Nov. 3), as part of the 19th annual Cattle Classic inside Walz Arena.

Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad has moved to 3-0. Included in that run was a 79-60 win over No. 25 St. Thomas University (Fla.) on Friday.

“I liked our defensive effort,” Limback said. “That first half we forced a lot of turnovers and that’s something I really wanted our guys to take pride in – getting after it defensively. I thought some of that led to offense on the other end. The other thing was sharing the basketball. I felt like we really shared it and made the easy opportunities for each other.”

This one was about taking care of business and not letting down after Friday’s statement win over a 2018 national tournament qualifier. Limback used the entire roster on Saturday. Five different Bulldogs all reached double figures in scoring: Tanner Shuck (13), Carter Kent (12), Brevin Sloup (11), Ryan Holt (10) and Gage Smith (10). Collectively, the blistered the nets to the tune of a 57.8 team field goal percentage.

Concordia led 19-8 out of the gate after back-to-back treys splashed in by Grant Wragge and Sloup and never looked back. By halftime, the Bulldogs had built an insurmountable 64-33 advantage over the Bears, a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association.

Time will tell, but Concordia is beginning to build confidence in the idea that it can surprise some people this winter.

“We’re playing hard and playing together,” Kent said. “That’s two things that we really focus on. I feel like if we just keep that up then there’s nothing we can be disappointed about.”

Shuck and Sloup were both named to the All-Cattle Classic team. The junior duo figures to be leaned upon all season for scoring punch from the perimeter. Shuck has shown a more well-rounded game thus far. He dished out six assists and added two steals while playing just 15 minutes.

This was a game for the reserves to shine. They did their part in forcing 25 Barclay turnovers. Thirteen of the 14 Bulldogs to see the court registered in the scoring column. Concordia also used its size advantage to outrebound the Bears, 36-21. There wasn’t much margin for error for Barclay, which allowed Kent (4-for-7) and Shuck (3-for-4) to go crazy from 3-point range.

The Bulldogs will open up conference play on the road next week with a trip to Midland (1-1) on Tuesday. Tipoff from the Wikert Event Center is set for 8 p.m. CT. The two sides split their two meetings last season with the home team winning in each instance. The Warriors lost their season opener to Bethany College before rebounding with a victory over College of the Ozarks.

All-Cattle Classic Team

Kevin Miller, Hastings

Justin Brown, St. Thomas

A’donte Turner, Barclay

Brevin Sloup, Concordia

Tanner Shuck, Concordia

Conference play begins with trips to Fremont, Sioux City

Nov. 5, 2018

SEWARD, Neb. – It’s only the second week of the 2018-19 season for the Concordia University men’s basketball team, but conference play is already here. Following a 3-0 week at home, the Bulldogs will take their act on the road for the first time with trips this week to Midland and 10th-ranked Briar Cliff. Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad is coming off a 2017-18 season in which it placed sixth in the GPAC.

This Week

Tuesday, Nov. 6 at Midland, 8 p.m.
-Webcast: Stretch Internet
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country

Saturday, Nov. 10 at (10) Briar Cliff, 4 p.m.
-Webcast: Stretch Internet

Concordia got a boost of confidence last week while claiming nonconference wins over Kansas Wesleyan University, 70-59, 25th-ranked St. Thomas University (Fla.), 79-60, and Barclay College (Kan.), 97-62. Over those three victories, Bulldog opponents averaged only 60.3 points and shot 37.9 percent from the field. Improvement on the defensive end could be a big key for outperforming Concordia’s preseason placement of 10th in the GPAC coaches’ poll. The 2017-18 Bulldogs allowed 76.8 points and 44.6 percent shooting.

Offensively, Limback will lean upon the veteran duo of Tanner Shuck and Brevin Sloup on the perimeter. Both players were named to the All-Cattle Classic team over the weekend. Shuck is proving to be more than just a shooter. In the win over St. Thomas, Shuck made the highlight of the weekend by grabbing a loose ball, going on the run and dunking the ball over the top of a Bobcat player. Shuck is averaging 15.7 points while Sloup is the team leader at 16.3 points per game. A Seward High School product, Sloup has helped salt away the first three wins by going 16-for-18 from the foul line.

Shuck and Sloup have been joined in the starting lineup by a host of newcomers in transfers Zach Auguste (Scottsdale CC) and Chuol Biel (McCook CC) and freshman Carter Kent (Crete HS). Auguste and Biel were much needed additions in the post. Auguste has been productive so far, averaging 10.3 points and 7.0 rebounds while Biel has supplied a solid defensive presence in the paint. Kent could wind up being the team’s third scoring option behind Shuck and Sloup. Kent scored more than 1,000 points during his high school career at Crete.

The standouts so far for head coach Oliver Drake’s Warriors (1-1) have been newcomers in junior guard Bryce Parsons and freshman guard Bowen Sandquist. Through two games, Parsons is averaging 23.0 points and Sandquist is averaging 22.0. Midland rebounded from a 90-83 season opening loss to Bethany College (Kan.) by defeating College of the Ozarks (Mo.), 88-86. The struggle has been on the defensive end where Warrior opponents are shooting 48.7 percent from the field, although the sample size is admittedly small. It appears Midland will be without star player Ryan Williams.

Briar Cliff (3-0) checked in at No. 2 in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll. In the early going, head coach Mark Svagera’s squad has claimed wins over Presentation College (S.D.), Friends University (Kan.) and Bethany College (Kan.). The victory over Friends came in double overtime. The Chargers boast one of the GPAC’s top players in senior guard Jay Wolfe, who leads the team in scoring (23.3), rebounds (8.0), assists (4.3) and steals (3.0). Wolfe is the ringleader for a team averaging 102.0 points per game.

Projected starters

Concordia (3-0)
G – Brevin Sloup, Jr., 5-9
G – Carer Kent, Fr., 6-2
F – Tanner Shuck, Jr., 6-4
F – Zach Auguste, Jr., 6-7
F – Chuol Biel, Jr., 6-8

Midland (1-1)
G – Tariq Deere, Fr., 6-0
G – Dillon Faubel, Fr., 6-1
G – Bryce Parsons, Jr., 6-2
G – Bowen Sandquist, Fr., 6-2
F – Sam Brown, So., 6-6

Briar Cliff (3-0)
G – Erich Erdman, Sr., 5-11
G – Jackson Lamb, Jr., 6-4
G – Jay Wolfe, Sr., 6-4
F – Nic Lutmer, Sr., 6-4
F – Kyle Boerhave, Fr., 6-6

Rally comes up short at Midland

Nov. 6, 2018

FREMONT, Neb. – On the opening night of conference play, the Concordia University men’s basketball team fell behind 15-4 and played catch up all evening long. The Bulldogs got as close as two points (74-72) in the closing minute before host Midland salted it away at the free throw line. The Warriors held on for a 78-72 victory on Tuesday (Nov. 6).

Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad had hoped to continue the momentum it built with a 3-0 start at home last week, but Concordia was unable to recover from a 44-29 halftime deficit.

“We couldn’t guard them on the ball,” Limback said. “We were giving up too much in the paint. They did a great job of isolation. They got on a roll in the first half and their guys really started to feel good. We just played on our heels too much tonight. I am proud of our guys for their fight at the end and making a nice comeback. We just can’t come out on our heels defensively and we weren’t good on the glass.”

Consider it a lesson for a team still learning how to incorporate a bevy of new faces. In some ways, Concordia and Midland are going through similar circumstances. The Warriors themselves are relying on multiple newcomers, including transfer DJ Deere, who topped the team with 17 points on Tuesday. Thirteen of his points came during a rough first half for the Bulldogs.

Concordia trailed by as many as 17 points with Midland seeming to have an answer whenever it began to feel threatened. It became a nail-biter in the final few minutes when the Warriors began coming up empty on the offensive end. A driving layup by Brevin Sloup with :26 left got the Bulldogs within two. The rest of the way, Concordia misfired on two attempts from 3-point range while Midland went 4-for-4 from the charity stripe.

The back breaker for the Bulldogs was a 10-0 Warrior run to end the first half. Just before the buzzer, Midland’s Bryce Parsons slammed home a tip dunk. Another newcomer, Parsons put up 14 points and 10 rebounds. He will be counted upon to pick up some of the slack with star Ryan Williams sidelined by injury.

“There were some guts shown here,” Limback said of the comeback attempt. “It’s really a mindset that we didn’t have most of the night. Midland wanted this game more than we did. They consistently made the plays.”

Junior Tanner Shuck gave Concordia a fighting chance by stroking 6-of-13 tries from long range. He led all players with 23 points. Sloup chipped in 14 points and three assists while Carter Kent (10) also reached double figures in scoring. Off the bench, Ryan Holt went a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor and notched nine points in 11 minutes of action. Chuol Biel blocked three shots.

The Warriors (2-1, 1-0 GPAC) shot 50 percent (29-for-58) from the floor compared to 41.9 percent (26-for-62) shooting by the Bulldogs. Midland held a 37-31 advantage on the boards. Four Warriors accounted for 59 of the team’s points.

Concordia will be back on the road within conference play on Saturday when it will challenge 10th-ranked Briar Cliff (3-0). Tipoff will take place at 4 p.m. CT from the Newman Flanagan Center in Sioux City, Iowa. The Chargers are set to open GPAC action Wednesday at Jamestown.

Three-point shooting pushes No. 10 Briar Cliff past Concordia

Nov. 10, 2018

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.).

Bulldogs to host Hastings, Jamestown in GPAC action

Nov. 12, 2018

SEWARD, Neb. – Back at home this week, the Concordia University men’s basketball team has its sights set on getting in the win column in GPAC play. The Bulldogs were defeated on the road last week by Midland, 78-72, and No. 10 Briar Cliff, 81-64. Head coach Ben Limback’s squad is now 3-2 overall with its of its three victories coming inside Walz Arena, where Concordia will entertain Hastings on Wednesday and Jamestown on Saturday.

This Week

Wednesday, Nov. 14 vs. Hastings (6-1, 2-0), 8 p.m.
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country

Saturday, Nov. 17 vs. Jamestown (5-1, 1-1), 4 p.m.
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country

The Bulldogs are still in the process of feeling things out with a revamped roster. One thing they know they can rely on is the scoring punch on the perimeter from Tanner Shuck and Brevin Sloup. They are neck and neck for the title of team scoring leader with Sloup averaging 15.8 points and Shuck 15.6. As a whole, Concordia knows it’s going to have to improve its offensive output after shooting 41.9 percent at Midland and 34.6 percent at Briar Cliff. A return home may help. The Bulldogs shot better than 50 percent in two of their first three home games.

Limback did tweak the starting lineup prior to the Briar Cliff game, which saw sophomore Grant Wragge start for the first time in his career. Newcomers in Zach Auguste and Chuol Biel have started each of the first five games. Auguste and Biel are being counted upon as pillars of the frontcourt. Auguste had a 16-point, nine-rebound performance in the 79-60 win over No. 25 St. Thomas University (Fla.) on Nov. 2. Meanwhile, Biel is an important piece as a post defender.

Aside from allowing the Chargers to net 16 3-point field goals over the weekend, Concordia has been solid on the defensive end, holding its first five opponents to an average of 68.0 points per game and to 41.8 percent shooting from the floor. No team has scored more than 81 points in a game against the Bulldogs so far. The focus right now is cutting down on dribble penetration by opposing backcourts.

Hastings has already played twice this season in Walz Arena having been part of the Cattle Classic field. As part of that event, the Broncos defeated both Barclay College (Kan.) and St. Thomas. The Broncos have rattled off six wins in a row since opening their season with an 86-72 loss to Friends University (Kan.) at the York College Invite. Head coach Bill Gavers’ squad is paced by Bart Hiscock, who averages 19.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Hastings opened up conference play by defeating Doane and Mount Marty.

Jamestown is in its first season as a GPAC member. The Jimmies got conference play started with a 104-98 home loss to Briar Cliff prior to a 90-60 blowout of Doane. Both contests took place in North Dakota. Concordia will have to be aware of sharpshooting guard Kevin Oberweiser’s presence on the court. He has averaged 22.3 points per game while sinking 28-of-49 (.571) attempts from 3-point range. Head coach Danny Neville’s squad has been lighting it up, ranking second nationally in field goal percentage (.546) and third in scoring average (104.2 ppg).

Projected lineups
(Scoring average in parentheses)

Concordia (3-2, 0-2 GPAC)
G – Brevin Sloup, Jr., 5-9 (15.8)
G – Grant Wragge, So., 6-2 (2.8)
F – Tanner Shuck, Jr., 6-4 (15.6)
F – Zach Auguste, Jr., 6-7 (7.8)
F – Chuol Biel, Jr., 6-8 (5.6)

Hastings (6-1, 2-0 GPAC)
G – Kevin Miller, Sr., 6-2 (19.0)
G – Logan Cale, Jr., 6-0 (5.9)
F – Shane Chamberlain, Fr., 6-6 (9.0)
F – Bart Hiscock, Jr., 6-6 (19.9)
F – Brendan Lipovsky, Jr., 6-4 (9.7)

Jamestown (5-1, 1-1 GPAC)
G – Isaiah Dobson, Jr., 6-2 (8.3)
G – Kevin Oberweiser, Sr., 6-2 (22.3)
G – Jon Purintun, Sr., 6-2 (19.2)
F – Brock Schrom, So., 6-8 (5.2)
F – Jack Talley, So., 6-5 (7.7)

Biel, Sloup lead overtime win over Hastings

Nov. 14, 2018

SEWARD, Neb. – It was nothing if not exciting. The Concordia University men’s basketball team let a 16-point second half lead slip away, but showed guts to rally in overtime and secure its first conference win of the 2018-19 season. The late scoring punch from Brevin Sloup and the interior defense of Chuol Biel was enough to eke out a 92-87 win over Hastings inside Walz Arena on Wednesday night (Nov. 14).

This would have been a particularly tough one to let get away for sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad. In the end, it got the bounce back victory it needed after two conference road losses last week. The Bulldogs are now 4-2 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

“They made some nice adjustments at the half offensively and we had trouble defending (Kevin) Miller and some of their action in the second half,” Limback said “But I’m just so proud of our guys. There were some moments in the second half where we were stagnant and they had all of the momentum, and they we made some big plays down the stretch.

“How about Brevin Sloup? He was struggling. They were doing a good job on him. Then all of the sudden it’s overtime and he hit some huge, huge shots for us.”

Overtime felt like a bit of a letdown considering Concordia led 52-36 early in the second half. The Bulldogs led virtually the entire way until Logan Cale’s trey in the last minute knotted the score, 76-76. Concordia later turned it over on a possession in which the shot clock had been turned off. The Broncos (6-2, 2-1 GPAC) got one last shot in regulation, but Bart Hiscock’s contested layup did not go down.

From there it was a slippery Sloup for Hastings. The Seward High School product did not have a point at halftime, but then went off for 12 of his 19 during the overtime. In back-to-back possessions, Sloup dug the Bulldogs out of an 82-78 hole with a three-point play and then a trey. He later canned all four of his free throw attempts in the final 30 seconds in a heroic effort.

Concordia may not have gotten to that point without the work inside of Biel, who posted a line of 14 points, six rebounds and six blocked shots. He made 7-of-10 shots from the floor in the best offensive game of his young Bulldog career.

“We mostly wanted to get the ball out of their point guard’s hand,” Biel said of the team’s strategy heading into overtime. “We wanted to make his teammates create plays. There was a moment where it looked like it was slipping away, but we had a great defensive effort and got the game back.”

Indeed, Miller is a tough guard. He led Hastings with 26 points and 10 assists. He made 12-of-17 shots from the floor. Miller, Hiscock (19) and Brendan Lipovsky (15) combined for 60 of the team’s points. The Broncos shot 46.8 percent from the floor compared to 54.4 percent by Concordia.

Concordia put five players in double figures in the scoring column: Sloup (19), Tanner Shuck (16), Carter Kent (15), Biel (14) and Ryan Holt (10). Holt made big contributions off the bench. He nailed a clutch three late in regulation.

Said Limback, “I’m just so proud of our guys. After regulation when we had a chance to win it, I think we showed a lot of mental toughness coming out of there to come through in overtime.”

The Bulldogs now get set to welcome Jamestown (6-1, 1-1 GPAC) to Walz Arena on Saturday. The Jimmies won at Valley City State University (S.D.), 83-75, in nonconference action on Wednesday. Jamestown opened up GPAC play with a 104-98 home loss to 10th-ranked Briar Cliff before routing Doane, 90-60, last week.

Sloppy play dooms Concordia in loss to Jamestown

Nov. 17, 2018

SEWARD, Neb. – Things fell apart offensively in the second half on Saturday (Nov. 17) for the Concordia University men’s basketball team. Jamestown limited the Bulldogs to 28 percent shooting over the final 20 minutes and built a lead as large as 20 points in a 74-61 victory for the visitors from North Dakota. Concordia had trailed by six points (55-49) with just over 12 minutes to play.

Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad had hoped to keep alive what had been an unblemished home record. Instead, the Bulldogs slipped to 4-3 overall and to 1-3 in the GPAC.

“There is a lot of stuff we need to improve on and grow in,” Limback said. “Our execution was not sharp. They did a good job. Jamestown put good pressure on us and really disrupted us. I didn’t feel like we handled it. We just got out of sync. There was a lot of one-on-one stuff and it certainly shows in the stats.”

The Jimmies entered the game known more as an offensive-minded team that had been averaging 101.1 points per game. In a contest with fewer possessions than what Jamestown had gotten used to, the 21 Concordia turnovers were a killer. The Bulldogs opened up the second half by turning the ball over five times in the first three minutes. The last one led to a Jon Purintun trey that boosted the Jimmie lead to 15 (53-38).

Concordia did show some fight by getting within six on the strength of a triple by Tanner Shuck at the 12:27 mark of the second half. Shuck and company just couldn’t knock down enough of those to keep pace. Shuck endured a 4-for-14 shooting day while the team went just 5-for-19 (.263) from 3-point range. Brevin Sloup (14 points, five rebounds) and Shuck (12 points, four steals) were the Bulldog scoring leaders.

A bright spot off the bench shined through in freshman Tanner Wubbels, who notched 10 points and seven rebounds in 20 minutes. Said Limback, “I thought he competed tonight and we just need more of that from other guys, too.”

Jamestown (7-1, 2-1 GPAC) got a big performance from Terrell Alfred (18 points, 4-for-7 from 3-point range) in a reserve role. Jimmie star guard Kevin Oberweiser produced a line of 17 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals. Meanwhile, Brock Schrom added 12 points and four blocked shots. Jamestown shot 45.3 percent (29-for-64) as a team.

So far this season, a lot of the scoring load has been shouldered by Shuck and Sloup, the team’s most veteran players. Freshman Carter Kent (eight points, 3-for-4 from the field) will likely take on a bigger role as he gains more experience.

“I thought there was a moment there with about seven or eight minutes left where we got three or four stops in a row,” Limback said. “We just couldn’t get that big bucket to get over that hump. You have to do that against these good teams.”

The Bulldogs will quickly turn around and play Monday in Forest City, Iowa, home to Waldorf University (3-3). Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. CT. Concordia will also be at NCAA Division I University of North Dakota for an exhibition at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

Three road trips make up Thanksgiving week

Nov. 18, 2018

SEWARD, Neb. – Three road trips outside of conference play are coming up on this week’s slate for the Concordia University men’s basketball team. A busy Thanksgiving week will get started on Monday with a venture to Waldorf University in Forest City, Iowa. The Bulldogs will quickly turn around and head to Grand Forks, N.D., for a 7 p.m. contest at NCAA Division I University of North Dakota on Tuesday (exhibition for Concordia; official regular-season game for North Dakota). Finally, Concordia will be at Peru State College on Saturday.

This Week

Monday, Nov. 19 at Waldorf University (3-3), 6 p.m.
-Webcast: Stretch Internet
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country

Tuesday, Nov. 20 at University of North Dakota (3-1), 7 p.m.
-TV: Fox Sports North

Saturday, Nov. 24 at Peru State College (4-0), 4 p.m.
-Webcast: Stretch Internet
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country

Head coach Ben Limback’s squad hopes to rebound from its 74-61 loss to Jamestown on Saturday. The performance was a complete reversal of the team’s offensive fortunes, as compared to the 92-87 overtime win over Hastings on Nov. 14. The Bulldogs shot 54.4 percent from the floor in the win over the Broncos, but slipped to 39.6 percent against Jamestown. Concordia started out 4-0 at home before this weekend. This week the Bulldogs will attempt to nail down their first road victory. They fell at the hands of Midland and No. 10 Briar Cliff in their first two road outings.

The loss to Jamestown meant that Limback will have to wait at least one more game to earn his 200th victory as a head coach. Now in his 15th season as a head coach (including nine seasons at Concordia University, Ann Arbor), Limback won 115 games with the Cardinals before transitioning to Seward. Limback is now 84-74 since returning to his alma mater prior to the 2013-14 season. His high water mark for wins in a season was 21 captured by the 2016-17 Bulldogs.

Concordia leans heavily upon juniors Tanner Shuck and Brevin Sloup for scoring production. Sloup played the role of hero in the overtime against Hastings. In that five-minute period, the Seward High School product put up 12 points while going 3-for-4 from the field and 5-for-5 from the free throw line. Sloup is the team’s leader with an average of 16.0 points per game. While averaging 15.1 points, Shuck (811 career points) continues to move closer to becoming the program’s next 1,000-point scorer.

Waldorf, a member of the North Star Athletic Association, has already played two GPAC opponents. The Warriors endured a 72-61 loss to Dordt in their season opener and then regrouped with a 74-69 win over Mount Marty. Waldorf has struggled offensively, averaging 66.5 points and shooting 42.1 percent from the floor. Its top scorer is Brady Kuchinka (15.2 points per game).

North Dakota resides in The Summit League. Head coach Brian Jones’ squad recently played at the University of Kentucky with the result being a 96-58 loss for the Fighting Hawks. North Dakota is coming off a 12-20 record in 2017-18. It has held its first four opponents to just 38.7 percent shooting from the field. Its leading scorer is Cortez Seales (12.5 points per game).

Peru State of the Heart of America Athletic Conference is off to a 4-0 start that included a 71-70 win over Central Methodist University (Mo.) to open up conference play. At 6-foot-8, Lyle Hexom presents a matchup problem as someone who can step out and hit the three (13-for-26). He is averaging 23.3 points per game. The Bobcats advanced to the second round of last season’s NAIA Division I national tournament. Head coach Bob Ludwig’s squad was picked by league coaches to finish fourth out of the 13 teams in the HAAC.

Limback earns 200th career win in white knuckler at Waldorf

Nov. 19, 2018

FOREST CITY, Iowa – While seeking its first road win of the 2018-19 season, the Concordia University men’s basketball team went on an 11-0 second half run, withstood a late push from the opposition and emerged victorious in Forest City, Iowa, on Monday night (Nov. 19). The Bulldogs even survived a long, last second 3-point attempt in what amounted to a 75-72 win inside Hanson Fieldhouse, home to Waldorf University.

The victory marks the 200th in the head coaching career of Ben Limback, who is in his sixth season guiding his alma mater. Concordia moved to 5-3 overall this season.

Said Limback, “The guys mobbed me after the game. I didn’t really know. I just thought they were excited about the win. (Assistant coach) Lance (Korell) announced it so it was kind of cool.

“You go on the road and get on a bus during break and you have to find ways to win on the road. They have a 7-footer that really hurt us in the second half. They do a good job of executing their sets, but we had so many big moments from different guys. We have a lot of stuff to clean up, but to get that win on the road with so many guys contributing was nice to see tonight.”

There were some tense moments made even more nerve-wracking by a couple of Bulldog miscues in the final a few minutes, but the visitors showed the proper amount of resolve to get out of there on top. Concordia players took turns making clutch shots down the stretch. There may not have been a bigger one than the top-of-the-key trey drained by Zach Auguste, who had not made a 3-point basket yet this season. His first of the campaign came with 2:15 left on the clock and boosted the advantage to 72-67.

It was a white knuckler from there. The Bulldogs never did relinquish the lead, but the Warriors got within one (73-72) after Concordia turned the ball over in the backcourt and then committed a foul with eight seconds left, leading to two Waldorf free throws. The final two points were sunk by Bulldog freshman Justin Wiersema before the Warriors (3-4) put up a misfire at the buzzer.

Joked Limback, “I’m exhausted. That was a grey hair game.”

With the exception of the 11-0 spurt by Concordia that provided a 58-47 lead, this one was played nip-and-tuck throughout. After an 8-0 run sliced the Bulldog advantage to two (61-59), Brevin Sloup followed with a bucket and Ryan Holt then delivered a three-point play. Concordia always managed to have an answer when Waldorf threatened.

This one took a team effort and the help of some strong outside shooting (12-for-25 from 3-point range). Holt got his first career start and chipped in 12 points and two blocks. Off the bench, Auguste paced the team in points (13) and rebounds (six). Three others reached double figures in the scoring column: Sloup (12), Chuol Biel (10) and Tanner Shuck (10). Wiersema added eight points and made 2-of-3 tries from long distance.

The Bulldogs had to deal with 7-foot-3 Gabriel Munoz, who notched a game high 20 points (9-for-15 from the field) and four blocked shots. Waldorf, which played at home for the first time since a 74-69 win over Mount Marty on Oct. 31, fell despite shooting a solid 48.3 percent from the floor. Both teams committed 11 turnovers.

The Bulldogs will wait to return to Nebraska and remain on the road for Tuesday’s exhibition contest at NCAA Division I University of North Dakota (3-1). Tipoff from Grand Forks, N.D., is set for 7 p.m. CT for a game that will be televised on Fox Sports North and ESPN3.com. The next official game for Concordia will be Saturday at Peru State College (4-0).

“We want to look back on this week and say, ‘man we did a lot of growing that week,’” Limback said. “We’re spending a lot of time together. I loved our bench tonight. I thought guys came in ready. Zach didn’t start, but his attitude was tremendous. It was probably his best game of the year. I love the energy right now and the enthusiasm of the guys.”

Concordia Shucks previously unbeaten Peru State

Nov. 24, 2018

SEWARD, Neb. – Tanner Shuck caught fire and the Concordia University men’s basketball team put the clamps on host Peru State in the second half while completing a successful Thanksgiving week on the road. Behind Shuck’s game high 29 points, the Bulldogs toppled the previously unbeaten Bobcats, 77-71, in Peru, Neb., on Saturday (Nov. 24).

Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad also defeated Waldorf University (Iowa), 75-72, on Monday before falling in an exhibition game at NCAA Division I University of North Dakota on Tuesday. Concordia is 5-0 in nonconference play and 6-3 overall.

“This is a good team,” Limback said of Peru State. “They have nice athleticism, they run good stuff and are really long – just a tough team. I’m really proud of our guys for being able to come on the road and do what we did during Thanksgiving week. I really felt like we grew in a lot of areas. I loved our toughness and grit down the stretch.”

This turned into a closely contested, seesaw battle for most of the afternoon. The game featured 11 ties and 12 lead changes with a nine-point Bulldog lead representing the largest spread all day. While equaling a career high point total, Shuck played a large role in helping Concordia mount that lead in the final minutes. The Grand Island native also swatted a shot in the closing minute to help the Bulldogs put the win in the bank.

It was a consistent day for Shuck, who put up 14 points in the first half and 15 in the second half. He went 10-for-17 from the floor, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range. He also grabbed five rebounds, blocked three shots and dished out three assists.

“He was big at both ends,” Limback said. “I was really proud of the way he was patient offensively. I thought our guys were really looking for him and our screeners did an outstanding job of getting guys open. And Chuol Biel was huge down the stretch. He did a good job on their big guy.”

Indeed, Biel’s matchup with Peru State standout Lyle Hexom, a 6-foot-8 senior, was a key storyline in Saturday’s clash. Hexom entered the game averaging 22.2 points per game but was held to 13 on 5-for-14 shooting by the Bulldogs. As a team, the Bobcats shot only 38.0 percent (27-for-71) – 33.3 percent (12-for-36) in the second half.

Biel finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and a blocked shot after coming off the bench. Crafty point guard Brevin Sloup found a way to make a big impact despite going 6-for-17 shooting from the floor. He nailed all four free throw attempts, collected 18 points and added nine rebounds and six assists. Carter Kent pitched in with nine points for a Concordia squad that shot 46.4 percent (26-for-56) from the field.

Brandon Jones paced Peru State (5-1) with 18 points and 10 rebounds, though he went only 5-for-17 shooting. Hexom (13 points, 10 rebounds) also posted a double-double and DeMon Hyler notched 11 points. The Bobcats advanced to the second round of the 2018 NAIA Division I national tournament.

Peru State had been 4-0 at home, but it was the Bulldogs who made the big plays down the stretch. It started with a triple delivered by Kent to push a one-point lead to a 67-63 advantage with three minutes left. The Bobcats went just 3-for-10 from the field the rest of the way and Concordia iced it by making all eight of its free throw attempts in the final minute.

The Bulldogs will return home to host fourth-ranked Morningside (6-0, 4-0 GPAC) at 8 p.m. CT on Wednesday. Concordia hopes to end a four-game series losing streak against the Mustangs, who pummeled Bellevue University, 97-75, on Saturday.

Conference play returns with visit from No. 4 Morningside

Nov. 26, 2018

SEWARD, Neb. – After a successful Thanksgiving week on the road, the Concordia University men’s basketball team will be back at Walz for some home cooking. A significant challenge awaits on Wednesday when fourth-ranked Morningside makes a visit to Seward. Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad will then dip back outside of conference play to host Nebraska Christian College of Papillion, Neb., on Saturday.

This Week

Wednesday, Nov. 28 vs. No. 4 Morningside (7-0, 4-0), 8 p.m.
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country

Saturday, Dec. 1 vs. Nebraska Christian (3-5), 4 p.m.
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country

Now the trick for the Bulldogs (6-3, 1-3 GPAC) is to carry over what they have done outside of the GPAC into conference play. The résumé in nonconference action is impressive with Concordia having defeated two 2018 NAIA national tournament qualifiers: No. 25 St. Thomas University (Fla.) and Peru State College. The Bulldogs tagged Peru State with its first loss of the season this past weekend. In the victory, junior Tanner Shuck equaled a career high with 29 points while Concordia knocked down 12-of-26 (.462) attempts from 3-point range. Defensively, the Bulldogs limited the Bobcats to 33.3 percent shooting in the second half.

The win at Waldorf University (Iowa) on Nov. 19 marked the 200th in the career of Limback, who is in his 15th season as a collegiate head coach. He also guided the Concordia University, Ann Arbor men’s basketball program for nine seasons. During which, he totaled 115 wins. Limback is now 86-74 since returning to his alma mater prior to the start of the 2013-14 campaign. His high water mark for wins in a season was 21 recorded by the 2016-17 Bulldogs.

Concordia is a formidable team when Shuck and junior point guard Brevin Sloup are knocking down shots. Shuck is averaging 16.1 points while Sloup is just behind at 15.8. A Grand Island native, Shuck has totaled 850 points and 179 3-point field goals over 70 career games as a Bulldog. Third scoring options are still emerging in the form of newcomers such as Carter Kent (8.3), Chuol Biel (7.7) and Zach Auguste (7.2). Biel posted 11 points and seven rebounds at Peru State. He ranks 15th nationally in blocks per game (1.78).

Winner of both the GPAC regular-season and postseason titles in 2017-18, Morningside has backed up its top five national ranking up to this point. The Mustangs own wins over No. 10 Briar Cliff and No. 14 Bellevue University as part of their 7-0 start. Head coach Jim Sykes’ high-powered squad features plenty of balance with six players averaging more than 9.0 points per game. The leader is Tyler Borchers, who has averaged 13.3 points and 5.7 rebounds. As a team, Morningside sports national rankings of second in turnover margin (+6.9), fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.2) and seventh in field goal percentage (.529).

Nebraska Christian is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association. The Sentinels have the ability to score having averaged 81.6 points through their first eight games. DJ Hanes enters the week averaging 30.9 points. He notched 47 points in a 98-97 loss to Dallas Christian College. Nebraska Christian will be at Emmaus Bible College (Iowa) before playing Concordia on Saturday.

Projected lineups
(Scoring average in parentheses)

Concordia (6-3, 1-3 GPAC)
G – Brevin Sloup, Jr., 5-9 (15.8)
G – Carter Kent, Fr., 6-2 (8.3)
F – Tanner Shuck, Jr., 6-4 (16.1)
F – Zach Auguste, Jr., 6-7 (7.2)
F – Ryan Holt, So., 6-5 (5.9)

Morningside (7-0, 4-0 GPAC)
G – Alex Borchers, Jr., 5-10 (9.1)
G – Brody Egger, Sr., 6-2 (11.3)
G – Zach Imig, So., 6-3 (12.9)
F – Matt Hahn, Jr., 6-3 (12.7)
C – Tyler Borchers, Jr., 6-7 (13.3)

Nebraska Christian (3-5)
G – Kyle Bohuslavsky, Fr., 5-10 (5.4)
G – DJ Hanes, Sr., 6-1 (30.9)
G – Devin Jones, So., 6-0 (8.5)
G – TJ Rivera, So., 5-11 (9.1)
F – Matt Lillquist, Sr., 6-8 (7.4)

Upset falls short against quick-start Mustangs

Nov. 28, 2018

SEWARD, Neb. – Freshly ranked as the No. 2 team in NAIA Division II, Morningside came out blistering hot and rode that start to a 77-70 victory over the Concordia University men’s basketball team inside Walz Arena on Wednesday night (Nov. 28). The Mustangs made 5-of-7 attempts from long range to begin the game, but then had to withstand a second half push by the Bulldogs after the well ran dry.

The fight displayed after digging a big early hole is something sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad can build upon. Concordia now stands at 6-4 overall and at 1-4 in conference play.

“They were on fire in the first half,” Limback said. “I didn’t like the way we were playing defensively inside against them. We fouled them a lot in the first half. It was close, but not close enough. We have to get better and we have to execute better if we expect to beat these types of teams.”

Morningside (8-0, 5-0 GPAC) may even be a national title contender in the 15th season of Jim Sykes’ head coaching tenure. The Mustangs certainly looked the part while blowing open a 27-11 lead by the 12:01 mark of the first half. Sophomore guard Zach Imig was feeling it. He poured in 11 of his team’s first 22 points. Morningside never trailed at any point on this particular night, but it got tight down the stretch.

Trailing 70-59 with less than 3:30 left on the clock, the feisty Bulldogs mustered up a 7-0 run with the first five points being rattled off by Tanner Shuck. Ryan Holt then added the sixth and seventh points of the spurt by intercepting a pass and then finishing a layup in traffic. Suddenly, Concordia’s upset hopes had sprung to life with it facing just a four-point deficit (70-66).

Alex Borchers then surfaced with the biggest bucket of the night. He buried a dagger of a triple from the left corner. After Chuol Biel slammed home a two-handed dunk, Tyler Borchers sealed the game with a three-point play in the closing minute. The 6-foot-7 Tyler Borchers is arguably the top post player in the league. He finished with 14 points and five rebounds.

Said Limback, “They’re a very good defensive team. They’re No. 2 in the country for a reason. We have to get better at taking care of the ball.”

Shuck is developing into one of the GPAC’s most prolific scorers. He led all players with 22 points while going 7-for-14 from the floor. He added one of the night’s biggest highlights by smothering a shot attempt against the backboard on a breakaway. Carter Kent enjoyed a fine night, adding 16 points on 7-for-9 shooting. Brevin Sloup (12 points, seven rebounds) also surpassed double digits in scoring.

The Mustangs cooled off from 56.0 percent shooting in the first half to a 42.9 percent clip in the second half. Imig led his squad with 19 points and four steals. Alex Borchers chipped in 10 points and three steals. The seven-point margin of victory actually represented the closest contest Morningside has played through eight games.

The Bulldogs will dip back outside of conference play on Saturday when they will host National Christian College Athletic Association Member Nebraska Christian College (3-5). Tipoff from Walz Arena is set for 4 p.m. CT. Concordia is 5-0 so far against nonconference opponents.

Bulldogs bury Sentinels with perimeter shooting

Dec. 1, 2018

SEWARD, Neb. – Things got started slowly, but Tanner Shuck and the Concordia University men’s basketball team took control after the halftime break on their way to a 94-67 win over Nebraska Christian College on Saturday (Dec. 1). The Bulldogs blistered the Walz Arena nets by draining 14 3-point field goals to sink the National Christian College Athletic Association opponent.

Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad has won three of its last four outings to move to 7-4 overall.

“Our mindset was better in the second half,” Limback said. “They came out really aggressive and I didn’t think we matched that to start the game. I thought the second half was better. At halftime we talked about continuing to take care of the ball and defensively helping off screens.”

Shuck misfired on his first five shots while the Sentinels built an early 18-11 advantage. The offensive lull didn’t last. Shuck buried seven 3-point field goals in the process of putting up a game high 26 points. What was a competitive five-point spread (45-40) early in the second half ballooned to as many as 31 points thanks to some outside sniping and a smothering defensive effort. Nebraska Christian shot just 40.0 percent (12-for-30) from the floor in the second half.

The Bulldogs are a tough customer when Shuck and fellow junior Brevin Sloup are knocking down shots. Sloup also had a fine day, posting 14 points, six rebounds and five assists while netting 3-of-5 attempts from long range. Four others also knocked in a triple for a Concordia squad that shot 49.2 percent overall.

“It’s a blast,” Shuck said of playing alongside Sloup. “You know that he’s going to hit some shots and he’s going to find the open guys too. He’s super unselfish. He’s not going to get mad at you for taking a bad shot. He’s going to encourage you. He’s a great player and he can do a lot offensively. It’s fun to play with him.”

One reason for concern entering the contest was the presence of prolific scorer DJ Hanes of the Sentinels (4-6). He poured in a team high 25 points, but only seven of them came after halftime. Devin Jones (13 points and seven rebounds) was the only other Nebraska Christian player to reach double figures. The Sentinels came into the day as owner of a win over one NAIA foe: Dakota State University.

Ryan Holt (10 points and four rebounds) joined Shuck and Sloup as double-digit scorers. Tanner Wubbels (nine points and seven rebounds) and Gage Smith (nine points) both made solid contributions off the bench. Wubbels and Smith were two of the nine freshmen to see action. Concordia turned the ball over just eight times, went 20-for-22 from the foul line and held a 43-30 advantage on the boards.

The Bulldogs are now 6-0 in nonconference play. The trick is to carry that success over to GPAC action. The second half fight against second-ranked Morningside on Wednesday may have been a start.

“A couple things we really emphasized after that were take care of the ball and attention to detail throughout the game,” Shuck said. “We had eight turnovers today, which was a lot better.”

The Bulldogs will return to conference play on Wednesday with a short trek to Doane (2-8, 0-5 GPAC) for an 8 p.m. CT tipoff from the Haddix Center. Last season’s matchup in Crete was a classic. Concordia escaped with the victory thanks to a buzzer beater in overtime. The Bulldogs have won each of the last three meetings with the Tigers.

Bulldogs look to find footing within GPAC play

Dec. 3, 2018

SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University men’s basketball team has had no trouble taking care of business outside of conference play. The rigors of the GPAC have provided a different set of challenges. The Bulldogs have already played three of the conference’s four teams that are currently ranked in the top 25 of NAIA Division II. Now they get set to go to Doane on Wednesday before hosting Mount Marty on Saturday.

This Week

Wednesday, Dec. 5 at Doane (3-8, 0-5), 8 p.m.
-Webcast: YouTube
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country

Saturday, Dec. 8 vs. Mount Marty (3-8, 1-5), 4 p.m.
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country

While head coach Ben Limback’s squad enters the week at 1-4 in conference play, it has put together a solid last couple of weeks with wins in three of its last four outings. The only loss during that stretch was a 77-70 home defeat at the hands of No. 2 Morningside. Concordia got within four in the final two minutes after trailing 27-11 from the jump. Four days before entertaining the Mustangs, the Bulldogs (7-4 overall) picked up perhaps their most impressive win thus far by triumphing at Peru State College (7-1). In its latest action, Concordia thumped visiting Nebraska Christian College, 94-67.

There may not be a more encouraging development than the continued takeoff of Tanner Shuck’s game. The native of Grand Island has gone for 29, 22 and 26 points, respectively, over the past three games. During that stretch, Shuck has netted 15-of-28 attempts from 3-point range. Compared to conference players, Shuck ranks third in 3-point field goals per game (3.36), 10th in scoring (17.6) and 10th in 3-point field goal percentage (.416). Shuck has run his career point total to 898. Shuck nailed seven 3-point field goals against Nebraska Christian.

Shuck and Brevin Sloup continue to star as a one-two scoring punch. They combine to average 32.8 of the team’s 77.4 points per game. At 5-foot-9, Sloup is also one of the team’s top rebounders with an average of 4.7 boards per game. Shuck and Sloup seem to be growing increasingly comfortable with all the new pieces surrounding them. Freshman Carter Kent (16 points versus Morningside) has provided some scoring punch and junior Chuol Biel (1.82 blocks/game) has been a impactful addition as a low-post defender.

Doane has won two nonconference games in a row after a 1-8 start. The Tigers have struggled after receiving votes nationally in the preseason. One issue to this point has been Doane’s average of 17.3 turnovers per game. Much of its offense comes from four starters who each average more than 13 points per game with Nick Kornieck’s 15.3 scoring average leading the way. The Tigers played without Kornieck at Haskell Indian Nations University (Kan.) in last week’s 65-64 victory. Concordia has won three in a row in the series with Doane.

Mount Marty’s lone conference victory came by a 74-71 final score versus Midland on Nov. 17. The Lancers made progress last season by going from four wins in 2016-17 to six in 2017-18. One of those victories victimized the Bulldogs, 65-63, in Yankton. Mount Marty has averaged only 67.5 points per game while shooting 38.8 percent from the floor. The team’s leading scorer is Jailen Billings (11.5 ppg).

Projected lineups
(Scoring average in parentheses)

Concordia (7-4, 1-4 GPAC)
G – Brevin Sloup, Jr., 5-9 (15.3)
G – Carter Kent, Fr., 6-2 (8.8)
F – Tanner Shuck, Jr., 6-4 (17.5)
F – Zach Auguste, Jr., 6-7 (6.7)
F – Ryan Holt, So., 6-5 (6.1)

Doane (3-8, 0-5 GPAC)
G – Koh Flippin, Sr., 6-3 (13.4)
G – Anthony Laravie, So., 6-0 (13.2)
G – Tyler Sullivan, Fr., 5-11 (3.7)
F – Jaxon Harre, So., 6-5 (1.5)
C – Trace Tupper, So., 6-10 (13.7)

Mount Marty (3-8, 1-5 GPAC)
G – Chase Altenburg, Fr., 6-3 (4.3)
G – Logan Fleming, Sr., 6-0 (5.5)
G – Colby Johnson, Jr., 6-2 (10.8)
F – Reilly Devine, Fr., 6-5 (5.1)
F – Jonah Larson, Fr., 6-6 (7.6)

Sloup eating up life as point guard in hometown Seward

Dec. 5, 2018

He lights up when given the opportunity to talk about Nebraska’s Fourth of July City. Brevin Sloup is a proud Seward native and Seward High School graduate. Sloup’s affection for his hometown, and his sense of humor, are evident in his Twitter bio. It reads simply, “Seward” – plane emoji – “Seward.”

His journey may not have covered a lot of ground, in terms of mileage, but Sloup has not seen his ‘faith walk’ as any less rewarding.

“I don’t have any regrets,” Sloup said of his decision to stay home. “It’s all worked out so far. A lot of people know I like Seward a lot. I like the small-town atmosphere and getting to know the community. They have your back and support you through everything. I appreciate everything the coaches do. Each year I’ve gotten closer with them. It goes beyond basketball. I love the faith aspect of it all.”

After coming off the bench as a freshman and sophomore, Sloup has taken on a starring role in 2018-19. The all-time leading scorer in Bluejay history has become an absolutely critical piece in the lineup for head coach Ben Limback’s program, which returned just one starter this season. Sloup took advantage of a wide-open situation at point guard. Through 11 games, he’s averaging 15.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists.

It took a lot of work for the 5-foot-9 Sloup to get to this point. Not unlike others who were stars for their high school teams, Sloup entered college basketball with no playing time guarantees. On that 2016-17 squad, Sloup was not likely to take a lot of minutes away from established veterans like Seth Curran, All-American Chandler Folkerts and sharpshooter Eli Ziegler. Sloup took the right approach. He learned from them.

“It was a big adjustment,” Sloup said of his reserve role (8.5 minutes per game). “My senior year (at Seward High School) I had a lot of success and played a lot. The seniors made it known how important I was to the team even though I wasn’t playing as big of a role. I don’t know if it was exactly what I wanted at the time, but looking back I think I gained a lot from it. I was able to understand it and work my way up.”

Sloup earned more playing time as a sophomore in 2017-18. He had his moments of brilliance. He put up 17 points in a road win over Dordt, but that game was more the exception during a season that saw Sloup average 4.5 points per game. With everything he saw this summer and leading up to the opening tipoff of the 2018-19 campaign, Limback felt confident the time was right to move Sloup into the starting lineup.

“He’s always been driven and motivated to get better,” Limback said. “It was just a matter of time before he was ready for something like this. What he did this summer was really embrace the challenge. We all felt like he was going to have to be one of the guys. He’s gotten a lot stronger and defensively has been his biggest area of growth. His hard work and desire to get better every day has set him apart.”

Sloup’s importance is obvious on a team that has featured nine freshmen and two transfers on its varsity roster. The Bulldogs are currently 7-4 overall with his services. They’re sure glad they don’t have to think about life would be like without him had he decided to sign on with a rival GPAC school. Sloup entertained the idea of leaving Seward, but he’s happy to remain in a place where much of the town knows him and takes pride in his success.

“It’s fun. I always get teased,” Sloup said of being the hometown guy. “With our Phoenix trip coming up – everyone knows how much I like Seward and I’m not a big traveler. Tanner (Shuck) always gives me heck. He’ll say that we’re going to Phoenix, but ‘Brev isn’t going to enjoy it.’ He’s joking obviously, but I do let people know how much I do like being around Seward. But I’ll enjoy the warm weather for sure.”

Sloup’s impact goes beyond what fans see on the basketball court. As a teammate and roommate, Sloup has also helped force Shuck to become outgoing while also aiding in him becoming one of the GPAC’s most lethal scorers. Shuck has been on a tear, entering the week having averaged 25.7 points over the past three games.

There are likely few people happier for Shuck than Sloup. They are in their third year as teammates. Never before has the program counted upon the duo more than it does now.

“Tanner is a really special guy,” Sloup says of Shuck. “I’ve been roommates with him. Honestly I was a little skeptical when I first came and met Tanner. He was kind of quiet, but we’ve really built a bond. He’s a blast to play with. He’s been a really big part of my spiritual walk as well. I know that’s really important to him. He’s helped me grow in that aspect. Outside of basketball, he’s always there for me no matter what it is.”

Shuck had similarly complimentary comments regarding Sloup after a recent game. Said Shuck, “You know that he’s going to hit some shots and he’s going to find the open guys too. He’s super unselfish. He’s not going to get mad at you for taking a bad shot. He’s going to encourage you. He’s a great player and he can do a lot offensively. It’s fun to play with him.”

It sure sounds like Sloup has found what he was looking for, right in the shadows of the farm he was raised on by parents Nick and Andrea, who do not have to go more than a few miles to watch Brevin’s home games. Their daughter Natalie also attends Concordia as a member of the dance team.

The Sloup name is well-established within the community.

“I’m lucky to know a lot of people in Seward,” Brevin said. “It’s always nice to see someone in Fast Mart or Runza say, ‘Hey, nice game,’ or say that they watched it or listened on the radio. It’s cool going from high school to Concordia games and to notice the following that stays with you. It’s that community aspect of it that makes it special.”

Concordia stymied in loss at Doane

Dec. 5, 2018

CRETE, Neb. – The Concordia University men’s basketball team may have seen more of the expected Doane team that received votes nationally in the preseason rather than the one that entered the night winless in conference play. The Bulldogs struggled to crack the 3-2 Tiger zone in what culminated in a 65-52 Concordia defeat inside the Haddix Center on Wednesday (Dec. 5).

Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad is still learning how to win within the rugged GPAC. Concordia has slipped to 7-5 overall and to 1-5 in conference play.

“Their length is really good and we knew that going in,” Limback said. “Early on I thought we got some good looks and once they didn’t fall, we panicked a little bit in that first half. We didn’t take care of the ball. We were second guessing things. We didn’t get in the gaps with the ball. We were soft with the ball. Against a team like this with this length you have to either shoot really well or take care of the ball to score it.”

Not much went according to plan offensively. The Bulldogs went 1-for-10 to start the game and suffered through a 17-6 Doane run over the final five-and-a-half minutes of the first half. Concordia did not have the firepower on this particular night to come back. It shot only 30 percent (9-for-30) in the first half and 32.3 percent (10-for-31) in the second half while committing 18 total turnovers.

The Bulldogs gave themselves a chance by playing solid defensively. After finding itself down by as many as 18 points (53-35), Concordia made a push by going on a 10-0 run that included eight-straight points delivered by point guard Brevin Sloup. With 5:25 to play, the Bulldogs had life down 53-45. Concordia drew no closer and watched Anthony Laravie drill a dagger in the right corner that made it a double-digit spread with less than 2:30 remaining.

The result did not come from a lack of effort on the part of the Bulldogs, who have been one of the GPAC’s top defensive teams from a statistical standpoint. Doane (4-8, 1-5 GPAC) was limited to 41.4 percent shooting. However, rebounding favored the Tigers.

“We had pretty good effort throughout the game,” Limback said. “There were some spurts where they outplayed us on the glass and got some second-chance points. There are things we could have controlled better with more of an aggressive mindset.”

Sloup led all scorers with 19 points (6-for-19 from the field). After a white-hot previous three games, Tanner Shuck went 5-for-16 from the floor and finished with 13 points. There was little other offensive production.

The Tigers, who have won three games in a row, placed three players into double figures. Laravie paced the victors with 16 points. Big man Trace Tupper added 12 points and 14 rebounds while Koh Flippin put up 11 points and eight rebounds. Doane outrebounded Concordia, 44-36.

The Bulldogs will be back at home on Saturday to welcome Mount Marty (3-9, 1-6 GPAC) to Walz Arena for a 4 p.m. CT tipoff. Mount Marty won the most recent meeting, 65-63, in Yankton, S.D., on Jan. 13 this past season. In Wednesday’s action, the Lancers fell by an 86-80 score to Dakota Wesleyan.

Opportunity for signature road win awaits

Dec. 12, 2018

SEWARD, Neb. – The first seven games of conference play have not gone as scripted, but the Concordia University men’s basketball team could turn his fortunes around this Saturday with a win at the Corn Palace. After polishing off finals week, the Bulldogs will head to Mitchell, S.D., for a 6 p.m. CT tipoff at 18th-ranked Dakota Wesleyan.

Game Info
Concordia (7-6, 1-6) at No. 18 Dakota Wesleyan (9-3, 5-3)
Saturday, Dec. 15 | 6 p.m. CST
Mitchell, S.D. | Corn Palace
Radio: 104.9 Max Country (Tyler Cavalli)
Webcast: Stretch Internet

Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad will have had a week off from game action by the time it takes the court on Saturday. In its most recent action, Concordia suffered heart break when Colby Johnson’s buzzer beating trey allowed Mount Marty to leave Walz Arena with a 70-69 victory. The Bulldogs will head into the weekend having dropped four GPAC games in a row since a 92-87 overtime victory over Hastings. The trick now is to revive a struggling offense that sports GPAC rankings of ninth in scoring (74.8) and ninth in field goal percentage (.453).

Junior point guard Brevin Sloup kept Concordia afloat offensively last week in losses to Doane and Mount Marty. Sloup notched eight points during a 10-0 second half run that got the Bulldogs within striking distance at Doane. He also put up 17 of his game high 24 points in the second half of the Mount Marty contest. Meanwhile, Tanner Shuck followed a three-game hot stretch that included 22 points or more in each outing by going 8-for-30 from the floor (5-for-22 from 3-point range) last week. Those types of performances are unlikely to continue for the career 40.4 percent 3-point shooter.

Concordia’s most recent win over Dakota Wesleyan was a 109-106 overtime classic at the Corn Palace on Feb. 12, 2017. All-American Chandler Folkerts enjoyed a monster performance, going for 37 points and 14 rebounds. Since then, the Tigers have won each of the last three meetings between the two sides.  The Bulldogs have dropped their first three road games of the season in GPAC play. However, they do own a nonconference victory over Peru State College, currently ranked 17th at the NAIA Division I level.

Head coach Matt Wilber’s Tigers jumped back into the top 25 this week on the heels of road wins over Mount Marty and Doane. Dakota Wesleyan remains a high-powered offensive team led by junior guard Ty Hoglund, named the GPAC Player of the Week on Tuesday. Hoglund is averaging 23.8 points per game for a squad that ranks seventh nationally in 3-point field goals per game (12.0) and 21st in scoring offense (89.6). Concordia has not had much success creating turnovers and now goes up against a Tiger team that turns the ball over just 9.5 times per game.

After Saturday’s contest, the Bulldogs will wait until their trip to Phoenix, Ariz., (Dec. 28-29) for a return to the hardwood. Conference play will resume after New Year’s Day.

Projected lineups
(Scoring average in parentheses)

Concordia (7-4, 1-4 GPAC)
G – Brevin Sloup, Jr., 5-9 (16.2)
G – Carter Kent, Fr., 6-2 (8.5)
F – Tanner Shuck, Jr., 6-4 (16.9)
F – Chuol Biel, Jr. 6-8 (7.2)
F – Ryan Holt, So., 6-5 (6.2)

Dakota Wesleyan (9-3, 5-3 GPAC)
G – Aaron Ahmadu, Sr., 5-10 (9.1)
G – Nick Harden, Jr., 5-10 (16.8)
G – Ty Hoglund, Jr., 6-3 (23.8)
F – Collin Kramer, Jr., 6-7 (7.8)
F – Samuel McCloud, Jr., 6-8 (12.1)

Stumble at the Palace

Dec. 15, 2018

MITCHELL, S.D. – Host Dakota Wesleyan shot a sizzling 60.6 percent in the first half and then somehow matched that performance by shooting 66.7 percent in the second half. Those numbers made for a humbling evening at the Corn Palace for the Concordia University men’s basketball team on Saturday (Dec. 15). The Bulldogs suffered their largest margin of defeat this season, 102-56, at the hands of the 18th-ranked Tigers.

Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad now sits at 7-7 overall and at 1-7 in league play. Concordia has dropped five GPAC games in a row.

Dakota Wesleyan (10-3, 6-3 GPAC) got much too comfortable from the perimeter. The Tigers shot 18-for-33 (.545) from 3-point range while keeping on the throttle. Star Ty Hoglund poured in a game high 29 points on 11-for-17 shooting from the floor. Eight of his teammates knocked down at least one 3-point field goal.

The time off during finals week did not cure the Bulldog shooting struggles from beyond the arc. They went 3-for-19 on long range attempts. The team’s most effective scorer was freshman Carter Kent, who notched a Concordia high 15 points on 6-for-14 shooting. The rest of the team was a combined 16-for-40 from the field. Chuol Biel (10 points in 15 minutes) was the only other Bulldog in double figures.

Hoglund did not have to do it alone. Nick Harden enjoyed a big night that included 16 points, nine assists and seven steals. Samuel McCloud stroked four 3-point shots and totaled 14 points. Off the bench, Koln Oppold netted 11 points. The Tigers owned advantages in the rebound (31-25) and turnover (9-14) departments.

Dakota Wesleyan owned a big advantage in the backcourt. It held Concordia top scorers Tanner Shuck and Brevin Sloup to five points apiece. Shuck went 1-for-5 from the field. The Bulldogs fell into an early hole and never recovered. A Kent 3-point bucket just after halftime made it a 13-point game (46-33) before the wheels came off.

The Bulldogs will now break for Christmas. Next up on the schedule is the Arizona Christian Holiday Classic (Dec. 28-29) in Phoenix, Ariz. Concordia will play host Arizona Christian University and MacEwan University (Canada) during its stay in the desert. Conference play will pick back up after New Year’s Day.

Bulldogs getting set for trip to Phoenix

Dec. 21, 2018

SEWARD, Neb. – Perhaps the most anticipated road trip of the entire season is up next for the Concordia University men’s basketball team. The Bulldogs hope an extended break will help them put behind a three-game skid. Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad will fly out to Phoenix, Ariz., the day after Christmas for a pair of nonconference games.

Arizona Christian Holiday Classic
Friday, Dec. 28 vs. No. 12 Arizona Christian University (11-1), 3 p.m. MST / 4 p.m. CST
Saturday, Dec. 29 vs. MacEwan University (0-12), 12 p.m. MST / 1 p.m. CST

Both games at the holiday event will be streamed live via Stretch Internet at a cost of $7.95 per game. In addition, Concordia play-by-play voice Tyler Cavalli will be live from Fultz Memorial Gymnasium in Phoenix to call the action on 104.9 Max Country.

The Bulldogs (7-7, 1-7 GPAC) are looking to hit the reset button after a blowout loss at No. 18 Dakota Wesleyan in their most recent outing on Dec. 15. While Concordia has dropped five GPAC games in a row, it has yet to slip up in nonconference play. The résumé includes a road victory over Peru State College, which is currently ranked 17th at the NAIA Division I level. In non-league games, the Bulldogs are outscoring their opponents, on average, 82.0 to 65.2. Conversely, conference foes have outnumbered Concordia, 79.6 to 67.0.

An offensive resurgence could be the recipe for halting the losing streak. The Bulldogs have been at their best when juniors Tanner Shuck and Brevin Sloup have knocked down shots. Shuck is bound to shake out of a slump that has seen him go 9-for-35 (.257) from the floor over the past three games. Shuck and Sloup are the team’s leading scorers with points-per-game averages of 16.1 and 15.4, respectively. As a team, Concordia sports GPAC rankings of 10th in field goal percentage offense (.450) and ninth in scoring offense (73.4).

The scoring options behind Shuck and Sloup have been a work in progress. Freshman Carter Kent has shown plenty of promise. The Crete High School product was the team’s most effective weapon at Dakota Wesleyan. He poured in 15 points on 6-for-14 shooting from the floor. In the post, Chuol Biel (1.57 blocks/game) has been a nice addition defensively. Prior to their struggles at the Corn Palace, the Bulldogs had played solid defensively. They currently rank fifth in the GPAC in field goal percentage defense (.447).

Arizona Christian will carry a sparkling 11-1 record into next Friday’s clash. Its only loss came by a 100-93 score at the hands of The Master’s University (Calif.), which was ranked second in the most recent NAIA Division I coaches’ poll. The Firestorm checked in at No. 12 in the same poll. Head coach Jeff Rutter’s squad can light up a scoreboard. It averages 99.1 points per game and is shooting 43.2 percent from 3-point range. Junior guard Terence Shelby Jr. (20.7 ppg) enjoyed a 26-point, 10-rebound performance in his team’s 91-88 win over Briar Cliff on Wednesday.

MacEwan has yet to win a game this season while going up against competition completely unfamiliar to Concordia. The Griffins compete as a member of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association. They have experienced offensive struggles of their own having shot just 37.2 percent from the floor through their first 12 games of the 2018-19 season. Jake Notice paces the squad with an average of 16.9 points per game.

Concordia will resume conference play after returning from The Grand Canyon State. The Bulldogs will be at Dordt on Wednesday, Jan. 2.

Projected lineups
(Scoring average in parentheses)

Concordia (7-7)
G – Brevin Sloup, Jr., 5-9 (15.4)
G – Carter Kent, Fr., 6-2 (8.9)
F – Tanner Shuck, Jr., 6-4 (16.1)
F – Chuol Biel, Jr. 6-8 (7.4)
F – Ryan Holt, So., 6-5 (6.0)

Arizona Christian (11-1)
G – Emilio Acedo, Sr., 6-4 (9.9)
G – Shane Carney, Jr., 5-9 (17.5)
G – Terence Shelby, Jr., 6-3 (20.7)
F – Al Burge, Jr., 6-4 (7.9)
F – Callum Lawson, Sr., 6-6 (20.2)

MacEwan (0-12)
G – Deonte Doslov-Doctor, Sr., 6-0 (7.4)
G – Dustin Gatzki, Jr., 6-4 (7.4)
G – Jake Notice, Jr., 6-4 (16.9)
F – Abdullah Shittu, So., 6-6 (8.3)
F – Atlas St. Paul-Butler, Sr., 6-6 (8.3)

Concordia falls in return to action at holiday classic

Dec. 28, 2018

PHOENIX, Ariz. – After a layoff of 12 days without a game, a matchup in the desert with 12th-ranked Arizona Christian University did not exactly provide a soft landing for the Concordia University men’s basketball team. The Bulldogs were kept at arm’s length all second half by the host Firestorm, who handed the Bulldogs an 85-71 defeat in Phoenix, Ariz., on Friday (Dec. 28).

Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad is hoping to pick things up in the second semester. Concordia has dropped four in a row and has slipped to 7-8 overall.

“We wanted to slow them down in transition. They were averaging 99 points per game,” Limback said. “We had to make them score in the half court. Overall defensively I thought we did okay. After we settled in they didn’t get as many open looks from three. No. 1 (Shane Carney) for them had a tremendous game. He was tough to stop.

“Where we really lost the game was in the turnovers. We had 19 turnovers and a lot of those led to transition points that we knew we couldn’t afford to give them.”

A member of the Golden State Athletic Conference, the Firestorm (12-1) are now 9-1 at home following an offensive performance that actually fell below their standards this season. The work of Carney (27 points on 9-for-21 shooting) and Callum Lawson (20 points, 13 rebounds) proved to be enough to keep down a Bulldog squad that has struggled offensively.

Concordia used an 11-0 run fueled by a trey apiece from Grant Wragge, Carter Kent and Brevin Sloup to take a 25-22 lead nearly midway through the opening half. Carney and company rebounded with a big 19-6 spurt to take control and a 49-40 halftime advantage. The Bulldogs never got closer than eight points the rest of the way.

The contest on Friday featured the Concordia debut of transfer Sammy Adjei, a 6-foot-7 native of Accra, Ghana. He got the call as part of the starting lineup and delivered 10 points and five rebounds in 25 minutes of action. Adjei’s addition provides hope for a turnaround in conference play in the new year.

“He did a great job tonight,” Limback said. “He’s an inside presence and has the ability to score one-on-one in the post. He’s a great passer. He’s going to continue to come along with his rhythm and conditioning. He gave us a nice to start to the game. He can play above the rim and do some things at both ends.”

Sloup led the Bulldog offensive attack with 18 points on 5-for-13 shooting from the floor. Tanner Shuck (14) and Kent (12) also reached double figures. Concordia shot 40 percent (24-for-60) from the floor. The outside stroke is still a work-in-progress. The Bulldogs went 7-for-25 (.250) from 3-point range.

The Firestorm got a double-double off the bench from Anton Ivy (10 points, 10 rebounds) and 12 points from Shea Garland. Arizona Christian shot 45.5 percent (30-for-66) from the field – well below its season percentage of 51.0.

The Bulldogs will conclude their two-day swing at the Arizona Christian Holiday Classic on Saturday when it will take on MacEwan University (0-12) of Canada. The Griffins compete as a member of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m. MST / 1 p.m. CST from Phoenix.

Sloup, Wiersema power victory in Phoenix

Dec. 29, 2018

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Three different Bulldogs left Saturday (Dec. 29)’s matinee shaken up by injuries. Instead of making excuses, junior Brevin Sloup and freshman Justin Wiersema helped carry the Concordia University men’s basketball team to a 70-64 victory over MacEwan University (Canada) as part of the Arizona Christian Holiday Classic in Phoenix, Ariz.

The win put a halt to a four-game skid for sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad, which moved to 8-8 overall. The Bulldogs fell by an 85-71 score to host No. 12 Arizona Christian University on Friday.

“We had a lot of adversity throughout the game,” Limback said. “We had some injuries and some foul trouble. I was really proud and pleased with our bench. I felt like our bench was ready. Chance Sterling, Klay Uher, Justin Wiersema – these guys came in and gave us a big lift when we needed it, especially in the second half.”

Sloup carried his team offensively in the opening half by draining five 3-point field goals. Wiersema then enjoyed a breakout second half. At one point during the 15-2 spurt that put Concordia in control, Wiersema went on the attack and notched eight points in a row. That run staked the Bulldogs to a 62-48 lead with less than eight minutes remaining. The Griffins (0-13) made a push in the final minutes, but never cut their deficit to fewer than six points.

Sloup’s knocked in his first five attempts from long range. He provided sorely needed offensive punch on a day when starters Sammy Adjei and Ryan Holt were hobbled by injuries. Sloup finished with a game high 24 points. He canned a pair of free throws in the waning seconds to help put it on ice.

“What Brevin did was a huge thing for our offense,” Limback said. “Sammy goes down and offensively we had been struggling. I really our defense. Our defense led to some offense in the second half. You have to find ways to score and that’s what we did in the second half.”

Junior Tanner Shuck got into the act to aid the second half run. Two of Shuck’s steals directly led to buckets for Wiersema, who turned in a career high 13 points. Still working on regaining his expert stroke, Shuck finished with 11 points. He was a perfect 5-for-5 from the foul line.

MacEwan played its first game since Dec. 1. The Griffins hung around on Saturday with the help of Jake Notice’s 15 points and Abdullah Shittu’s 13 points. They also owned a sizeable 46-26 rebound advantage with Concordia depleted in the post. However, MacEwan was unable to overcome its 30 turnovers, which were a season high for Bulldog opponents.

Adjei made his second start in a Concordia uniform but played only six minutes. Holt was limited to three minutes. The bench helped the cause by recording 28 points. Sterling and Grant Wragge saw extended action, each playing more than 20 minutes. Wragge chipped in five points and Sterling four.

The next seven contests will all be against GPAC opponents. Up next on the docket is Wednesday’s trip to Dordt (11-5, 4-4 GPAC) for a 6 p.m. CST tipoff in Sioux Center, Iowa. The Bulldogs swept last season’s pair of meetings with the Defenders. Concordia has dropped five league games in a row since its 92-87 overtime win over Hastings on Nov. 14.

Conference play to resume in 2019

Dec. 30, 2018

SEWARD, Neb. – It will be time to refocus on GPAC play when the Concordia University men’s basketball team makes its way back from Phoenix, Ariz., where it went 1-1 at the Arizona Christian Holiday Classic. The holiday event ended a stretch of 12-straight days without a game for sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad. A more typical week will feature GPAC contests on Wednesday and Saturday.

This Week

Wednesday, Jan. 2 at Dordt (11-6, 4-4), 8 p.m.
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country

Saturday, Jan. 5 vs. Northwestern (9-8, 3-5), 4 p.m.
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country

Limback’s group ended its two-game swing in Arizona by holding off MacEwan University of Canada, 70-64, on Dec. 29. Brevin Sloup carried the Bulldogs (8-8) in the first half by draining his first five 3-point attempts on his way to a game and career high 24 points. His six made 3-point field goals also represented a career best. Then in the second half, Concordia got the help it needed from its bench on an afternoon when three different players were sidelined by injuries. Freshman Justin Wiersema put up a career high 13 points – eight of which came during a 15-2 second half spurt. A day earlier, the Bulldogs were tripped up by No. 12 Arizona Christian University (NAIA Division I).

The frontcourt had a different look to it in Phoenix. With Zach Auguste and Chuol Biel out, San Diego Miramar College transfer Sammy Adjei made his Concordia debut. Adjei started both contests in Phoenix. In the matchup with Arizona Christian, Adjei notched 10 points and five rebounds. The next day Adjei was limited to six minutes due to injury. Fellow frontcourt starter Ryan Holt also made an early exit. The key absences in the frontcourt forced the Bulldogs to go with a smaller lineup.

Sloup’s performance from the perimeter was a welcome sight for a Concordia team that had gone 25-for-108 from beyond the arc over the four-game losing streak. The Bulldogs made 11-of-27 (.407) 3-point tries in the win over MacEwan. Entering the week, Concordia sports GPAC rankings of ninth in scoring (73.1) and 10th in field goal percentage offense (.444). A hot streak could be near for Tanner Shuck, who has totaled 955 career points.

The Bulldogs will attempt to put an end to a five-game GPAC skid at Dordt on Wednesday. The Defenders are off to a solid 11-6 start under new head coach Brian Van Haaften. Dordt made a big splash early in the season with a come-from-behind win at then 17th-ranked Dakota Wesleyan on Nov. 14. Four Defenders average in double figures, led by 13.5 per game from Jesse Jansma. Among GPAC squads, Dordt ranks No. 1 in field goal percentage defense (.432) and ninth in field goal percentage offense (.450).

Northwestern is a much different team after graduating stars Colton Kooima and Nathan Wedel from last season’s squad. Those departures have opened the door for the emergence of Trent Hilbrands, who ranks fourth among GPAC players with an average of 20.1 points per game. The Red Raiders remain an efficient offensive team, rating in the top 10 nationally in field goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage. Head coach Kris Korver’s squad has been up and down having not won more than three in row or lost more than back-to-back contests.

Projected lineups
(Scoring average in parentheses)

Concordia (8-8, 1-7 GPAC)
G – Brevin Sloup, Jr., 5-9 (16.1)
G – Carter Kent, Fr., 6-2 (8.9)
G – Tanner Shuck, Jr., 6-4 (15.6)
F – Sammy Adjei, Jr. (6.0)
F – Ryan Holt, So., 6-5 (5.6)

Dordt (11-6, 4-4 GPAC)
G – Chandler Brunsting, Jr., 6-1 (5.7)
G – Jesse Jansma, So., 6-4 (13.5)
F – Chad Barkema, Jr., 6-5 (11.6)
F – Garrett Franken, So., 6-7 (12.5)
F – Josh Van Lingen, Jr., 6-6 (11.3)

Northwestern (9-8, 3-5 GPAC)
G – Isaac Heyer, So., 6-3 (4.8)
G – Trent Hilbrands, So., 6-0 (20.1)
G – Parker Mulder, Sr., 6-2 (10.2)
G – Jay Small, So., 6-2 (15.0)
F – Steven Kragt, Sr., 6-7 (10.4)

Comeback effort comes up short at Dordt

Jan. 2, 2019

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – The Concordia University men’s basketball team fought valiantly to rally back from a 20-point deficit, but the comeback attempt eventually ran out of gas. The big push orchestrated by Brevin Sloup and a host of freshmen came up short in a 91-73 loss at Dordt on Wednesday night (Jan. 2). The Defenders ultimately pulled away by outscoring the Bulldogs 28-12 over the game’s final 11-and-a-half minutes.

Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad will have to wait until at least Saturday to snap what is now a six-game skid in conference play. Concordia stands at 8-9 overall and at 1-8 in the GPAC.

“The way we started I didn’t feel like we came out and competed,” Limback said. “Tanner Shuck has been battling the flu and wasn’t able to practice all week. He wasn’t himself so that definitely affects us at both ends of the floor, but I was really proud of the freshmen coming in and raising the intensity. They provided a huge spark. We were just playing harder and more aggressive. That’s how we should play all the time.”

The Bulldogs knew they were going to tip things off on Wednesday a bit short-handed. Starter Ryan Holt missed the game with an injury suffered last week in Phoenix, Ariz., while Shuck played only 13 minutes due to feeling under the weather. That helped open the door for eight freshmen to see action on Wednesday. Carter Kent led the group with 15 points.

The rookies helped shake Concordia (8-9, 1-8 GPAC) out of an early lull. The Bulldogs dug a 32-12 hole midway through the first half before a complete reversal. Nick Cito began the comeback bid with a triple that ignited a stretch that saw Concordia outscore Dordt 40-17. On the tail end of that explosion, Sloup got white hot. He buried a 3-pointer at the 17:05 mark of the second half to suddenly give Concordia a 52-49 lead.

But stops were difficult to come by the rest of the way. The Defenders (12-6, 5-4 GPAC) were able to consistently get good looks inside (50 points in the paint). Off the bench, Zach Bussard (20 points, eight rebounds) enjoyed a big night for the victors. Chad Barkema added 17 points and Garrett Franken chipped in 12. Bussard and company outrebounded the Bulldogs, 35-19, and shot 60 percent (33-for-55) from the floor.

“We just need more consistency,” Limback said. “Dordt is a good team. Their post players outplayed us. We’re lacking depth there right now. Their post players were very aggressive and strong.”

The most encouraging signs for Concordia was the fight shown by its most youthful players. Cito (six), Chance Sterling (seven) and Justin Wiersema (eight) combined for 21 points while making key contributions in reserve roles. Transfer Sammy Adjei also flashed some nifty moves in the post. He finished with 12 points on 6-for-11 shooting. As a team, the Bulldogs shot 44.1 percent from the field.

Sloup equaled Kent with 15 points. Concordia got back into the contest by knocking down perimeter shots. It went 12-for-28 (.429) from beyond the arc with seven different players draining at least one 3-point field goal.

The Bulldogs will make their first home appearance since Dec. 8 when they welcome Northwestern (10-8, 4-5 GPAC) to town for Saturday’s 4 p.m. CT tipoff inside Walz Arena. The Red Raiders won each of last season’s three meetings, including the matchup in the 2018 GPAC quarterfinals.

First half surge carries Northwestern inside Walz

Jan. 5, 2019

SEWARD, Neb. – An 18-18 deadlock nearly midway through the first half gave way to a comfortable halftime advantage for the visitors from Northwestern in Saturday (Jan. 5)’s clash inside Walz Arena. The Concordia University men’s basketball team never recovered in what turned out to be another tough shooting outing. The Red Raiders won, 76-59.

The drought within conference play continues for sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad. The Bulldogs have slumped to 8-10 overall and to 1-9 in GPAC games.

“They got hot in the first half and really beat us off the dribble,” Limback said. “We really challenged our guys in the second half to keep the ball in front and we did a better job of it. Offensively we just couldn’t make shots when we needed them. We have to put it all together. We have to play with more consistency and toughness, especially on the defensive end.”

Graduation hit Northwestern hard with the departures of stars Colton Kooima and Nathan Wedel, but it may be starting to click. The Red Raiders (11-8, 5-5 GPAC) have now won back-to-back GPAC games by double digit margins. On this particular night, Northwestern did not need the scoring exploits of Kooima. It held Concordia to 36.2 percent shooting (21-for-58) and coasted off its 28-10 run to end the first half.

The Bulldogs managed to get within single digits on a couple of occasions in the second half, but the Red Raiders responded affirmatively. After Carter Kent knifed his way into the paint for two to cut the deficit to nine (60-51) with just under 8:30 left, emerging star Trent Hilbrands followed with a three-point play. Concordia netted just two field goals the rest of the way in sputtering to the finish line.

Junior Tanner Shuck surpassed 200 3-point field goals in his career as a Bulldog. He dropped in a team high 13 points while going 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. Concordia would have liked him to shoot more, but Northwestern did a commendable job of limiting his opportunities. Brevin Sloup, 11 points on 4-for-10 shooting, was the only other Bulldog to reach double figures. Chuol Biel returned to the floor to add nine points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots.

Craig Sterk enjoyed a big night off the bench for the Red Raiders. He posted 18 points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes of action. Parker Mulder (12 points and 10 rebounds) notched a double-double for the victors, who shot 57.6 percent from the floor in the first half before cooling down to 33.3 percent in the second half.

For the second GPAC outing in a row, Concordia was forced to fight back from 20 points down. Said Limback, “We can’t get down by 15 to 20 and expect to win these games in the GPAC. Tanner defensively did some better things and adjusted some things on their guard play. Offensively we needed more inside and needed to take advantage of being in the bonus.”

The Bulldogs now look forward to their second and final meeting of the regular season with Hastings (12-6, 5-5 GPAC). The latest matchup will tip off inside Lynn Farrell Arena at 8 p.m. CT on Wednesday. Concordia outlasted the Broncos, 92-87, in overtime in Seward on Nov. 14. The Bulldogs also swept the regular-season series from Hastings in 2017-18.

Young Bulldogs look for return to win column

Jan. 7, 2019

SEWARD, Neb. – After a pair of conference losses to open up the new year, the Concordia University men’s basketball team seeks a return to the win column. Two GPAC opportunities await the Bulldogs this week as the second go-round through league action gets underway. Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad will be at Hastings on Wednesday before coming back home to host sixth-ranked Briar Cliff on Saturday.

This Week

Wednesday, Jan. 9 at Hastings (12-6, 5-5), 8 p.m.
-Webcast: Stretch Internet
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country

Saturday, Jan. 12 vs. No. 6 Briar Cliff (14-3, 8-2), 4 p.m.
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country

A number of personnel changes have taken place in recent outings, in part due to injuries, other circumstances and the rise of the freshman class. Eight freshmen played in last week’s loss at Dordt and another six saw action in the home defeat at the hands of Northwestern. Carter Kent has been the most prominent among the rookies and has notched 12 points or more in three of the past five games. The Bulldogs have also added to their depth with the in-season addition of transfer Sammy Adjei, who has averaged 7.5 points and 3.8 rebounds in his first four career games with Concordia.

Without question the Bulldogs are a much better team when the shots are falling for top scorers Tanner Shuck and Brevin Sloup. After a bout with the flu limited him to 13 minutes at Dordt, Shuck looked more like himself against Northwestern, draining 3-of-4 shots from 3-point range. The Grand Island, Neb., native surpassed 200 career 3-point field goals and now needs 29 points to become the 30th 1,000-point scorer in program history. Sloup has the next most career points on the active roster with 502.

The GPAC skid has reached seven since Sloup powered Concordia to a 92-87 overtime win over Hastings on Nov. 14. During the current streak, the Bulldogs have dropped five of those contests by double digit margins. Concordia enters the second half of the GPAC season with work to do if it is to qualify for the conference tournament. As it stands, the Bulldogs are two games behind the two squads tied for eighth – Doane and Midland, both 3-7 in the GPAC. Concordia could use a breakout offensive performance. It has shot less than 45 percent from the field in seven-straight games.

Hastings has been competitive with virtually everyone in the league. The Broncos followed up their loss at Concordia by winning at then 17th-ranked Dakota Wesleyan, 79-77. They also dropped a 106-103 overtime decision to Briar Cliff on a neutral court. Head coach Bill Gavers’ outfit is paced by two stars in particular – Kevin Miller and Bart Hiscock, who combine to average 37.8 points per game. Hastings is seeking to end a five-game series losing streak against the Bulldogs.

Briar Cliff is getting along admirably in the absence of Erich Erdman, who has been sidelined by injury since Dec. 5. There’s still a nice pool of talent at the disposal of head coach Mark Svagera. Guard Jay Wolfe tops the team in scoring (22.0), rebounds (6.8), assists (3.24) and steals (1.59). The Chargers can fill it up. Nationally, they rank second in 3-point field goals (13.2), seventh in free throw percentage (.791), ninth in scoring (91.8), 11th in 3-point field goal percentage (.405) and 13th in field goal percentage (.496).

Projected lineups
(Scoring average in parentheses)

Concordia (8-10, 1-9 GPAC)
G – Brevin Sloup, Jr., 5-9 (15.8)
G – Carter Kent, Fr., 6-2 (9.1)
G – Tanner Shuck, Jr., 6-4 (14.8)
G – Justin Wiersema, Fr., 6-3 (3.6)
F – Sammy Adjei, Jr. (7.5)

Hastings (12-6, 5-5 GPAC)
G – Logan Cale, Jr., 6-0 (4.9)
G – Kevin Miller, Sr., 6-2 (19.5)
F – Shane Chamberlain, Fr., 6-6 (7.5)
F – Bart Hiscock, Jr., 6-6 (18.3)
F – Brendan Lipovsky, Jr., 6-4 (11.6)

Briar Cliff (14-3, 8-2 GPAC)
G – Ethan Freidel, So., 6-0 (15.8)
G – Jackson Lamb, Jr., 6-4 (14.2)
G – Jay Wolfe, Sr., 6-4 (22.0)
F – Kyle Boerhave, Fr., 6-6 (8.6)
F – Nic Lutmer, Sr., 6-4 (5.1)

Shuck emerges as hero in comeback win at Hastings

Jan. 9, 2019

HASTINGS, Neb. – An 11-point halftime lead melted away and turned into a double-digit second half deficit on Wednesday (Jan. 9) for the Concordia University men’s basketball team. Instead of going quietly into the night, Tanner Shuck spearheaded a thrilling comeback that was highlighted by the game-winning step back trey from the left wing. The Bulldogs walked away from Lynn Farrell Arena an 87-84 victor over Hastings.

Shuck’s heroics provided the sort of confidence booster desperately needed for sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad. Concordia has snapped a seven-game GPAC skid while moving to 9-10 overall and to 2-9 in conference play.

“There were a lot of exciting moments on both sides,” Limback said. “Tanner Shuck had an amazing second half and just did a great job. He hit big shots. There were so many moments where the guys could have just given up. They were hitting some inside stuff. I loved the heart down the stretch. It’s tough to get these road wins so we’ll take it.”

The Bulldogs received a break early on when Hastings star point guard Kevin Miller went down with an injury not long after tipoff. He left the game and never returned. Concordia seemingly took full advantage by leading nearly the entire first half on the strength of the low post scoring punch of Sammy Adjei and Chuol Biel.

Hastings got things rolling in the second half, first taking the lead (52-51) at the 12:28 mark, and led by double digits as late as the 5:07 mark. The Broncos (12-7, 5-6 GPAC) shot an impressive 57.4 percent (31-for-54) for the game, including 66.7 percent in the second half. It was going to take a herculean effort to outdo the efforts of Bart Hiscock and Brendan Lipovsky (21 points apiece).

Enter Shuck, who was playing near his hometown of Grand Island. This was quite the way to break out of a recent funk. Over the final 10:34 of game time, Shuck exploded for 17 of his game high 23 points. His triple with 4:41 left made it a six-point deficit. He was just getting warmed up. He knocked in another triple with under a minute remaining to pull the Bulldogs within one.

Then down two (84-82) with the clock ticking under five seconds, Shuck received the ball from Brevin Sloup, created space with the step back and drilled it. For good measure, Shuck added two free throws after a Hastings turnover on the ensuing possession.

“It’s nice to see him come back and have that great second half,” Limback said. “We got some balance with that. Justin Wiersema had a good game off the bench and Chuol had a nice spurt in the first half. Those Grand Island guys love coming here. I’m just proud of the guys to get the win on the road.”

Shuck knocked down 5-of-10 shots from beyond the arc while running his career point total to 994. Four other Bulldogs reached double figures: Biel (14), Sloup (13), Adjei (12) and Wiersema (11). Biel also hauled in 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. Concordia outrebounded the Broncos, 38-23.

Shuck and company earned a regular-season sweep of Hastings having also edged the Broncos, 92-87, in overtime on Nov. 14. Hastings had just come off a close battle (106-103 OT loss to Briar Cliff) in its previous outing.

The Bulldogs will take their shot at seventh-ranked Briar Cliff (15-3, 9-2 GPAC) on Saturday when action tips off at 4 p.m. CST. Back on Nov. 10, the Chargers handed Concordia an 81-64 defeat. Briar Cliff built a large lead with the help of 16-for-35 shooting from 3-point range.

Sloup goes wild, Bulldogs upset No. 7 Briar Cliff

Jan. 12, 2019

SEWARD, Neb. – This did not look like the Concordia University men’s basketball team that entered the day ranked 10th in the GPAC in field goal percentage offense. The Bulldogs were crazy good early, absorbed a push from visiting Briar Cliff and then rode the ridiculously hot hand of Brevin Sloup. The seventh-ranked Chargers exited Walz Arena stunned by a 102-92 Concordia victory on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 12).

It was quite a week for sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad. In Hastings on Wednesday, Tanner Shuck sank a game-winning trey in the closing seconds. For the first time this season, the Bulldogs (10-10, 3-9 GPAC) have collected back-to-back GPAC triumphs.

“Brevin Sloup was constantly hitting big shots,” Limback said. “And our offense was really aggressive. Carter Kent had big shots, too, and huge free throws down the stretch. Man, what a game.”

The trio of Kent, Shuck and Sloup was dynamic. Sloup was otherworldly during a second half stretch that spanned just over seven minutes. During which, the Seward native dropped in 18 points, often cutting unguarded to the basket. At the end of the monster splurge, Sloup canned two heat check triples while on his way to a career high 33 points. He had no notion of backing down from the reigning NAIA Division II National Player of the Week Jay Wolfe.

Sloup piloted an offense that shot 58.2 percent (32-for-55) from the field, including 58.8 percent (10-for-17) from 3-point range. Wolfe and company dug out of an early 21-4 deficit to take a second half lead. That’s where this team showed its growth. Sloup went wild, Kent had a career high of his own (26 points) and role players such as Justin Wiersema and Tanner Wubbels got Walz rocking with a three-point play apiece.

At their zenith, the Bulldogs led by 14 points. In a game that drug out over the final couple of minutes, both teams put home 15 points over the closing minute-and-a-half. Wolfe did everything he could to will his team back, tallying 32 points. The problem for Briar Cliff (15-4, 9-3 GPAC) was that Concordia couldn’t miss from anywhere on the floor. The Bulldogs made 18 of their final 20 free throw attempts and were 28-for-35 overall from the charity stripe.

The Chargers just might have nightmares about what Sloup did to them in that second half. Said Sloup, “It was a lot of fun. I just got hot and started feeling it a little bit. My teammates screened for me and they were looking for me. They were passing me the ball and the shots were going in. It seemed like everything I was throwing up was going in.”

Sloup went 13-for-23 from the floor and added five assists and three rebounds. Kent lived at the foul line, where he was 12-for-16. Shuck recorded a double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds) while becoming the 30th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points. Wiersema also had his finest day, putting up 15 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Wubbels chipped in seven points off the bench.

Among Chargers, Jackson Lamb (17), Ethan Freidel (16) and Jeff Daubanton (12) followed Wolfe in the scoring column. Briar Cliff was without a key piece from the first matchup with Concordia that resulted in an 81-64 Charger victory. Erich Erdman has been out since Dec. 5 due to injury.

The feeling inside the Concordia locker room is now a much different one as compared to a week ago. Said Limback, “I hope this continues to give us confidence. This kids are so special and it’s a great group of guys. I want this to keep going and for our guys to get better every day.”

The Bulldogs will be back inside Walz on Wednesday to welcome Midland (9-11, 4-7 GPAC) to town. Tipoff time is 8 p.m. CST from Seward. Concordia will attempt to avenge a 78-72 loss in Fremont that occurred in the GPAC opener on Nov. 6. The Warriors are 1.5 games above the Bulldogs in the GPAC standings.

Concordia looks to build off momentum

Jan. 14, 2019

SEWARD, Neb. – Fresh off its best week of play all season, the Concordia University men’s basketball team has hopes of building upon wins over Hastings and No. 7 Briar Cliff. Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad still has work to do if it is to climb back towards the middle of the pack in the GPAC. Opportunities await this week with Midland coming to town on Wednesday prior to a trip to No. 21 Jamestown for a clash on Saturday.

This Week

Wednesday, Jan. 16 vs. Midland (9-12, 4-8), 8 p.m.
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country

Saturday, Jan. 19 at No. 21 Jamestown (18-4, 8-4), 4 p.m.
-Webcast: Stretch Internet
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country

This week will tell a lot about just how far the Bulldogs (10-10, 3-9 GPAC) have come. It appeared their season was slogging along after double-digit losses to Dordt and Northwestern just after New Year’s. A week after the 76-59 home loss to the Red Raiders, the feeling inside the locker room had turned. The heroics of Tanner Shuck dug Concordia out of a 10-point second half hole at Hastings on Jan. 9. Shuck completed the comeback by drilling a game-winning trey from the left wing. The Bulldogs won, 87-84, marking their first conference road win of the campaign. Three days later, Shuck became the program’s 30th member of the 1,000-point club.

And what a day it was on Jan. 12. Concordia put together its best offensive performance all season, led by Brevin Sloup, who enjoyed an incredible second half. Sloup poured in 26 of his career high 33 points after halftime while sinking the Chargers, 102-92. Freshmen Carter Kent (26) and Justin Wiersema (15) also posted career high point totals. Collectively, the Bulldogs shot 58.2 percent from the floor, 58.8 percent from 3-point range and 80.0 percent from the free throw line. Concordia opened up the game with a 21-4 run and eventually surrendered the lead before Sloup went wild.

Wiersema has now started two of the past three games and has made a difference. He totaled 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds over last week’s pair of wins. In the win over Briar Cliff, Kent, Shuck, Sloup and Wiersema each played more than 30 minutes. Limback has mostly gone to a four-guard lineup that also features either Chuol Biel or Sammy Adjei as the five man. Grant Wragge and Tanner Wubbels also see significant action off the bench.

The Bulldogs could pull even with Midland in the GPAC standings with a win on Wednesday. The Warriors were dealt a tough blow early this season when standout Ryan Williams suffered an injury. In his absence, junior guard Bryce Parsons has emerged as the team’s biggest star. He leads the team in scoring (19.3), rebounding (7.4), assists (5.37) and steals (1.0). Midland has dropped four of its past five conference games with the lone win coming in overtime over Doane. The Warriors rank 25th nationally in offensive field goal percentage (.480).

Concordia shot just 39.6 percent from the floor when it fell, 74-61, to Jamestown on Nov. 17. The Jimmies are actually known more for their prowess on the offensive end. Jon Purintun is the GPAC’s third leading scorer at 20.4 points per game. He helps power a squad that sports national rankings of seventh in scoring offense (91.6), 11th in field goal percentage (.496) and 24th in 3-point field goal percentage (.393). Head coach Danny Neville’s squad has acclimated well to the GPAC. Jamestown is tied for third place in the league standings after this past weekend’s 75-72 win at Doane.

Projected lineups
(Scoring average in parentheses)

Concordia (10-10, 3-9 GPAC)
G – Brevin Sloup, Jr., 5-9 (16.5)
G – Carter Kent, Fr., 6-2 (9.6)
G – Tanner Shuck, Jr., 6-4 (15.2)
G – Justin Wiersema, Fr., 6-3 (4.8)
F – Chuol Biel, Jr., 6-8 (7.5)

Midland (9-12, 4-8 GPAC)
G – Dillon Faubel, Fr., 6-1 (6.1)
G – Malik Martin, Fr., 6-2 (12.6)
G – Bryce Parsons, Jr., 6-2 (19.3)
G – Bowen Sandquist, Fr., 6-2 (13.4)
F – Reggie Gradwell, Sr., 6-7 (9.3)

Jamestown (18-4, 8-4 GPAC)
G – Isaiah Dobson, Jr., 6-2 (8.3)
G – Kevin Oberweiser, Sr., 6-2 (19.0)
G – Jon Purintun, Sr., 6-2 (20.4)
F – Brock Schrom, So., 6-8 (9.2)
F – Jack Talley, So., 6-5 (6.9)

Sloup tabbed GPAC Player of the Week after piloting upset win

Jan. 15, 2019

GPAC release

SEWARD, Neb. – The pilot of a pair of conference victories last week, Concordia University junior guard Brevin Sloup has been awarded appropriately. On Tuesday (Jan. 15), the league named Sloup the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Men’s Basketball Player of the Week. Sloup is the program’s first GPAC weekly honoree since January of last year.

Sloup and Tanner Shuck were the ringleaders last week in wins by scores of 87-84 at Hastings and 102-92 over seventh-ranked Briar Cliff. While playing in 73 minutes over those two contests, Sloup totaled 46 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds while going 18-for-38 (.474) from the field, 6-for-14 (.429) from 3-point range and 4-for-4 from the free throw line. The Seward High School product poured in 26 of his career 33 points in the second half of the win over Briar Cliff. The point total was the most in a single game by a Bulldog men’s basketball player since Chandler Folkerts put up 37 in a 109-106 overtime win at No. 7 Dakota Wesleyan on Feb. 12, 2017.

Sloup has paced Concordia in scoring (16.5 ppg) this season, which is his first as a starter. Over 72 career collegiate games, he has amassed 548 points, 121 rebounds and 113 assists while shooting 44.5 percent from the field, 41.5 percent from beyond the arc and 87.6 percent from the foul line. This 2018-19 season, Sloup ranks 11th nationally in free throw percentage (.875).

Head coach Ben Limback’s squad will return to action on Wednesday to host Midland (9-12, 4-8 GPAC) at 8 p.m. CT. The Bulldogs (10-10, 3-9 GPAC) are one game behind the Warriors in the league standings.

Good vibrations continue in defensive masterpiece

Jan. 16, 2019

SEWARD, Neb. – The good vibrations are pulsating throughout the Concordia University men’s basketball locker room. Its best stretch of basketball this season continued on Wednesday (Jan. 16) with a 66-51 home victory over Midland. The Bulldogs trailed 36-34 at the half, but squeezed the life out of the Warriors in the second half in a game with a much calmer pace than the one played this past Saturday inside Walz Arena.

Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad is hoping it has put things together in time to make something out of this season. Concordia is now 11-10 overall and 4-9 in conference play after claiming its third-straight GPAC win.

“I thought Midland did a great job in the first half not letting us get threes off them,” Limback said. “We were scoring, but we weren’t getting good looks from three. In the second half we started to get in transition a little more and open it up a little bit. When you hold a team to 15 points in a half you’re going to have a good chance to win. I love the way our defense came out in the second half.”

The second half was a complete domination by the Bulldogs, who outshot Midland over the final 20 minutes, 59.1 percent (13-for-22) to 24.0 percent (6-for-25). Concordia again played effective team basketball. Reigning GPAC Player of the Week Brevin Sloup was called upon to play all 40 minutes. He scored 14 points, dished out seven assists and committed just a single turnover.

Sloup’s productivity on the offensive end has been key in the current win streak. So too has been the insertion of freshman Justin Wiersema into the starting lineup. The rookie from Loveland, Colo., was fantastic again on Wednesday, contributing 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

“The energy is just there now,” Wiersema said. “We’re all fitting together. We’re all coming together as a team. I think we’re all finding our roles and gaining confidence. We’re just playing well.”

Grant Wragge (11 points, four rebounds) played a starring role off the bench. Carter Kent also reached double figures (10) in the scoring column. In the post, Chuol Biel has made a huge difference from a defensive perspective. His line included eight points, six rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals. He also supplied the biggest highlight of the night when he hammered down a thunderous dunk over a leaping Warrior defender.

Midland (9-13, 4-9 GPAC) shot only 34.0 percent for the game. The Warriors did manage to build a seven-point lead in the first half during a stretch of hot shooting by Bowen Sandquist, who equaled Malik Martin for a team high 15 points. Midland had hoped to complete a regular-season sweep having clipped Concordia, 78-72, in Fremont on Nov. 6.

Considering where things stood at the end of play on Jan. 5, the transformation has been stunning for the Bulldogs. At that point they had dropped seven GPAC games in a row, with the latter three all decided by margins of 17 points or more. No one wanted to continue down that path. Wiersema is one of several Bulldogs who have changed the team’s fortunes.

“The first time I started I got to the locker room right before tipoff and I saw my name up on the board,” Wiersema said. “My heart just sank with excitement. I was so nervous coming out here, but I knew I needed to play my best and do what’s best for the team.”

The Bulldogs now get set for Friday’s bus ride to Jamestown, N.D., in preparation for Saturday’s 4 p.m. CST clash with the 21st-ranked Jimmies (18-4, 8-4 GPAC). Concordia will attempt to avenge a 74-61 home loss at the hands of Jamestown on Nov. 17. The Jimmies will enter the contest having won seven of their previous eight outings.

Win streak ended at three

Jan. 19, 2019

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – The three-game roll by the Concordia University men’s basketball team ended with a thud inside Newman Arena in Jamestown, N.D., on Saturday (Jan. 19). The Bulldogs surrendered 59.3 percent shooting and got flattened, 95-68, by the 21st-ranked Jimmies. Concordia had hoped to win back-to-back GPAC road games.

Instead, sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad dropped to 11-11 overall and to 4-10 in conference play. In their three previous games, the Bulldogs had beaten Hastings, No. 7 Briar Cliff and Midland.

“I don’t think we came out of the gates ready to fight and compete,” Limback said. “We gave them some good looks early. They’re a very high scoring team and you have to make them work for their shots. We let their leading scorers get some good looks early and we weren’t able to fight with them. Offensively, we took too many bad shots that led into their offense.”

Spurred by junior point guard Brevin Sloup, the Concordia offense had come alive over the past couple of weeks. It’s just not that easy to keep up with Jamestown (19-4, 9-4 GPAC), which entered the game ranked seventh among all NAIA Division II teams in scoring average (91.6). Jimmie standouts Kevin Oberweiser (24 points) and Jon Purintun (20 points) both went 8-for-13 from the field. Collectively, Jamestown shot 11-for-19 from 3-point range.

A glimmer of hope came early in the second half when a 6-0 Bulldog run slashed the deficit to 13 (57-44). Just over four minutes later, Jamestown had built the lead back up to 20 (68-48) via an Oberweiser triple. The Jimmie firepower proved to be too much. Sloup (16 points) finished as the lone Concordia player in double figures.

Off the bench, Sammy Adjei put up nine points and seven rebounds in 16 minutes of action. Tanner Shuck (2-for-10 from the field) and Justin Wiersema both chipped in nine points as well. Chuol Biel added eight points, five rebounds and a blocked shot. As a team, the Bulldogs shot 42.9 percent from the floor. They made just 5-of-17 tries from 3-point range.

This was another bump in the road that Concordia hopes to learn from.

“You have to have a short term memory on this,” Limback said. “We’ll bounce back. We have competitors. Tonight I didn’t like the way we approached the game. There were too many moments where we didn’t have any fight. There were spurts here and there, but we lost a lot of the 50-50 balls. We’ll learn from this and be back to practice on Monday.”

Jamestown has transitioned quite well in its first season in the GPAC. The Jimmies sit in third place with Oberweiser and Purintun leading the way. In the post, Brock Schrom is also a nice presence. He posted 14 points, seven rebounds and five blocks on Saturday.

The Bulldogs will be back inside Walz Arena on Wednesday to host Doane (6-16, 3-11 GPAC). Concordia will aim to avenge a 65-52 loss in Crete that occurred on Dec. 5. The Tigers have claimed two GPAC wins since then with victories coming over Mount Marty and Dordt. Wednesday’s clash will precede a trip to Ann Arbor, Mich., for the Concordia Invitational Tournament.

Previewing CIT 2019 week on the men's side

Jan. 21, 2019

#CIT2019
Hosted by Concordia University, Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, Michigan (Cardinal Field House)

CIT links
CU-Ann Arbor tournament page
Advance tickets (available until 10 p.m. Jan. 23)
Live webcasts for CIT games
Radio coverage: 104.9 Max Country
Game recaps/interviews
CIT alumni and friends social

Tickets
$15 advanced weekend pass | $20 weekend pass purchased on site | $12 day pass | children under six are free

2019 Concordia Invitational Tournament Schedule

Friday, Jan. 25

• 12 p.m. CST / 1 p.m. EST – Nebraska vs. Wisconsin (women)
• 2 p.m. CST / 3 p.m. EST – Nebraska vs. Wisconsin (men)
• 5 p.m. CST / 6 p.m. EST – Ann Arbor vs. Chicago (women)
• 7 p.m. CST / 8 p.m. EST – Ann Arbor vs. Chicago (men)

Saturday, Jan. 26

• 9:30 a.m. CST / 10:30 a.m. EST – Dance/Cheer competition
• 11:30 a.m. CST / 12:30 p.m. EST – Women’s consolation game
• 1:30 p.m. CST / 2:30 p.m. EST – Men’s consolation game
• 4:30 p.m. CST / 5:30 p.m. EST– Women’s championship game
• 6:30 p.m. CST / 7:30 p.m. EST – Men’s championship game

Watch Party at Bottle Rocket
Bottle Rocket Brewing Co. in Seward will host a watch party for all Bulldog games during CIT. Bottle Rocker Brewing Co. is located at 230 South 5th Street in Seward.

CIT Dominance
The Bulldog men’s basketball program has dominated the Concordia Invitational Tournament, capturing an event record 27 all-time CIT titles. Only two other Concordias have won more than 10 CIT championships: St. Louis (16) and Chicago (14). Under head coach Ben Limback, the Bulldogs have won CIT titles in 2014, 2016 and 2017. All-American Chandler Folkerts garnered CIT MVP honors in both 2016 and 2017. While hosting CIT in 2017, the Bulldogs routed the competition, defeating CU-Chicago, 104-82, and then CU-Ann Arbor, 85-58, in the championship game. A year earlier, CUNE escaped the Windy City after surviving a potential game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer in the title game win over CU-Wisconsin. Limback has won five CIT titles as a head coach having also led CU-Ann Arbor to championships in 2006 and 2007. Last season CUNE settled for a win in the consolation game after falling to CUAA on day one.

Three-game win streak ended at Jamestown
Behind junior point guard Brevin Sloup, the Bulldogs got on a nice roll with a three-game win streak that included triumphs over Hastings, No. 7 Briar Cliff and Midland. Concordia enjoyed its best offensive performance all season in upsetting the Chargers. In that contest, Sloup poured in a career high 33 points and the Bulldogs shot 58.2 percent from the field. Then in the 66-51 victory over Midland on Jan. 16, Concordia put the squeeze on the Warriors in the second half. They shot just 24.0 percent from the floor and managed only 15 points over the game’s final 20 minutes. Unfortunately, the well ran dry for the Bulldogs at No. 21 Jamestown. The Jimmies shot 59.3 percent from the floor and stormed to a 95-68 win in North Dakota.

Limback’s squad stands at 11-11 overall (4-10 GPAC) and sits in ninth place in the GPAC standings, one game behind eighth-place Midland. Concordia has had the look of a much bigger threat since moving freshman guard Justin Wiersema into the starting lineup. He is averaging 12.3 points over the past four contests. He’s provided a nice fourth scoring option to go along with the likes of Sloup (16.4), Tanner Shuck (14.4) and Carter Kent (9.5). Chuol Biel has been a nice addition in the post. He leads the team with 31 blocked shots. The Bulldogs continue to seek better offensive consistency.

Free throw shooting has been one of this team’s biggest strengths. Among all NAIA Division II teams, Concordia ranks 25th (.750) in free throw percentage. That percentage has been helped by the fact that the team’s three best free throw shooters also get to the line most frequently. Sloup (.868), Shuck (.814) and Kent (.766) have each shot between 64 and 70 free throws. The success has been a must for an offense that ranks 10th in the GPAC in field goal percentage (.452).

Up next
Before tipping off the 68th annual Concordia Invitational Tournament, the Bulldogs will host Doane (6-16, 3-11 GPAC) at 8 p.m. CST on Wednesday in a clash between teams separated by only one game in the GPAC standings. In the first meeting, a 65-52 Tiger win in Crete, Concordia shot only 31.1 percent from the field while struggling with Doane’s zone defense. Things certainly haven’t gone as scripted for the Tigers, who began the season receiving votes in the NAIA preseason poll. Head coach Ian McKeithen’s squad is led in scoring by Nick Kornieck (17.0 ppg). In the post, 6-foot-10 Trace Tupper is a handful. He put up 12 points and 14 rebounds in the first matchup with the Bulldogs. Concordia has tripped up Doane in each of its previous three trips to Walz Arena.

Wednesday’s game will be covered live by the Concordia Sports Network and by 104.9 Max Country.

The men’s CIT field

Concordia University, Nebraska
Head coach: Ben Limback, 6th year
Record: 11-11
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference (NAIA Division II)
Location: Seward, Nebraska
Top player: This is a tough call between juniors Tanner Shuck and Brevin Sloup, who are capable of carrying the Bulldogs when they’re hot. The duo has combined to go 119-for-305 (.390) from 3-point range this season. Shuck has 1,022 career points.
Key stat: It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster for CUNE, which lately seems to either win comfortably or get blown out. Six of its last seven GPAC games have been decided by double digit margins with the Bulldogs winning two of them by 10 or more. The other victory during that stretch was an 87-84 decision at Hastings.
CIT titles: 27 (most recent: 2017)

Concordia University, Ann Arbor
Head coach: Ricky Yahn, 6th year
Record: 5-17
Conference: Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (NAIA Division II)
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Top player: Senior guard Jalen Thompson leads CUAA in scoring (16.1), rebounding (5.8) and assists (2.1). This season he eclipsed 1,000 career points and currently stands at 1,209. He put up a single-game career high 35 points back in October.
Key stat: The Cardinals have won two of the last CIT tournaments, including the most recent one that they hosted. In the 2015 championship game in Ann Arbor, Alec Turner drained a trey in the final seconds to give CUAA a 52-49 win over CUNE.
CIT titles: 4 (most recent: 2018)

Concordia University, Chicago
Head coach: Randy Rogers, 3rd year
Record: 4-12
Conference: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NCAA Division III)
Location: River Forest, Illinois
Top player: Senior guard Mitch Pelissier has been a perennial CIT all-tournament team member. This season he’s averaging a career high 22.2 points per game and has run his career scoring total to 1,612 points. He is shooting 44.2 percent from the field.
Key stat: CUC plays high possession basketball. It averages 85.4 points per game but also allows 95.0. Opponents are shooting 48.7 percent from the floor and 37.5 percent from 3-point range. The Cougars have yet to win a game away from home.
CIT titles: 14 (most recent: 2011)

Concordia University, Wisconsin
Head coach: Shawn Cassidy, 11th year
Record: 11-5
Conference: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NCAA Division III)
Location: Mequon, Wisconsin
Top player: Seniors in 6-foot-7 Andrew Fratzke and 6-foot-2 Josh Hau have been the headliners for a CUW squad that has gotten out to an 11-2 mark in conference play. Hau is averaging a team high 15.4 points (44.8 percent from 3-point range) while Fratzke averages 13.8 points and 6.2 rebounds.
Key stat: Head coach of the Falcons since the 2007-08 season, Cassidy (194-117) is knocking on the door of 200 career victories. He has led CUW to all three of its CIT titles (2008, 2010, 2013).
CIT titles: 3 (most recent: 2013)

Concordia runs away from Doane in second half

Jan. 23, 2019

SEWARD, Neb. – This contest plodded along for the better part of the opening half. Eventually the Concordia University men’s team found ways to crack the 3-2 zone of Doane. On the other end, the Bulldogs’ man-to-man proved up to the task in what ended with a happy 70-53 final score for the host team playing inside Walz Arena on Wednesday night (Jan. 23).

Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad effectively avenged its 65-52 loss at Doane that occurred on Dec. 5. Concordia has won four of its last five GPAC games to move to 12-11 overall and to 5-10 in GPAC play.

“It’s tough to not look forward to CIT, but this was a huge game and the guys knew it,” Limback said. “I felt like defensively we came out and played really hard. It was a huge confidence game and we needed to get this win first. Now we get to go to Michigan and hopefully it’s a little warmer there but I doubt it.”

A grinder of a first half saw both sides shoot in the 35 percent range, but eventually the Bulldogs found their groove. In the latter stages of the second half, Concordia busted open what was a tight 49-45 advantage with a 12-2 run capped with back-to-back treys dropped in by Carter Kent and Justin Wiersema. The Bulldogs had it in hand at that point, up 61-47. Just for fun, Tanner Shuck drilled a triple in the closing seconds.

In addition to playing steady defensively, Choul Biel always seems to produce at least one major highlight reel play each time out. Biel gave the fans not one, but two such moments on Wednesday. The first came during the aforementioned game winning push when Biel surfaced with a crowd pleasing rejection in transition and then sprinted the floor to lay the ball in on the other end. A few minutes later, Biel emphatically threw down the alley-oop off the feed from Wiersema.

Kent (14), Brevin Sloup (13) and Shuck (12) each reached double figures for the victors. Sloup also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out six assists. Wiersema added nine points, four assists and four rebounds. Tanner Wubbels also threw down a two-handed jam during an eight-point effort. Biel chipped in with six points, seven rebounds and a blocked shot.

Overall, this was a much better performance than the one Concordia put forth at a month-and-a-half ago. In that instance, the Bulldogs struggled mightily against the 3-2 zone.

“We were struggling early but I thought we got in a decent rhythm towards the end of the first half,” Limback said. “In the second half, offensively, we were a little bit better with our movement and being more aggressive. Chuol had a huge play with the block and the layup at the other end. I’m also proud of the guys off the bench who gave us a lift.”

This is not the season Doane (6-17, 3-12 GPAC) anticipated. Things have been made worse by the absence of big man Trace Tupper, who sat sidelined with a boot on his foot. Nick Kornieck led all Tigers with 15 points on 7-for-7 shooting from the floor. Without Tupper, Doane was outrebounded, 41-27. It shot just 36.4 percent (20-for-55) for the game.

Now the Bulldogs can focus their attention on the 68th annual Concordia Invitational Tournament, which will be hosted by Concordia University, Ann Arbor. In the first men’s contest on Friday, CUNE will clash with Concordia University, Wisconsin (11-5) at 2 p.m. CST / 3 p.m. EST. The Bulldogs will aim for their 28th CIT title all-time.

Bulldogs fall on day one of CIT

Jan. 25, 2019

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A tight first half gave way to a drama free final few minutes on the opening day of the 68th annual Concordia Invitational Tournament. Concordia University, Wisconsin caught fire in the second half while following the lead of the likes of Jordan Johnson and Josh Hau. They powered the Falcons to an 86-70 win over the Concordia University, Nebraska men’s basketball team in Friday (Jan. 25)’s action in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The loss means sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s program will play in the CIT consolation game for the second year in a row. The Bulldogs are .500 overall at 12-12.

“They’re a great offensive team and they have good balance,” Limback said. “They have guys who can shoot and a good post player. I thought we did a decent job on their post player throughout the game. There were some stretches in the second half where they got on a run and got some offensive rebounds. We didn’t handle some of the adversity well in the second half.”

Junior point guard Brevin Sloup was white hot early on. He splashed home all five first half attempts from 3-point range and wound up with a game high 24 points. Unfortunately for CUNE, Josh Hau and Jordan Johnson stole the show in the second half. They gashed the Bulldogs for a combined 47 points and led the charge in a 15-5 run that provided CUW a double digit advantage nearly midway through the second half. CUNE struggled to get back within single digits the rest of the way.

The Falcons outplayed CUNE in many facets. CUW tightened up its perimeter defense after the break and enjoyed a decided advantage on the boards (40-29). After knocking down 8-of-13 tries from beyond the arc in the first half, the Bulldogs went only 3-for-17 from long range over the final 20 minutes. Sloup fired off only two shots from beyond the arc in the second half.

CUNE could not get enough scoring punch from players not named Sloup. Tanner Shuck and Justin Wiersema notched 10 points apiece. Off the bench, Sammy Adjei posted nine points and seven rebounds. The Bulldogs shot only 41.1 percent from the floor compared to the 51.5 percent clip by the Falcons.

A member of the NCAA Division III’s Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, CUW (12-5) possesses an efficient offense that shoots 48.6 percent from the floor on the season. Jake Jurss (16 points) served as a nice third scoring option on Friday to supplement the efforts of Hau and Johnson. The Falcons are aiming for their first CIT title since 2013.

CUNE is in the midst of a unique stretch. Over their last 11 games, the Bulldogs have either won or lost nine of them by double digit margins. They had a quick turn around after taking care of Doane, 70-53, at home on Wednesday.

“We have to be better at tightening some things up,” Limback said. “The first half I felt like both teams went on a few runs. They answered it and we answered it. It all starts with consistent effort. They outplayed us in the second half, especially on the glass. We have to have consistent effort through adversity.”

The loss relegates the Bulldogs to the CIT consolation game at 1:30 p.m. CST / 2:30 p.m. EST on Saturday. The opponent will be either Concordia University, Ann Arbor or Concordia University, Chicago.

Sloup, Dawgs hold off CUC rally in CIT consolation

Jan. 26, 2019

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A 3-point shooting clinic to open the second half helped the Concordia University, Nebraska men’s basketball team built the cushion it needed to salvage a victory on the second day of the 68th annual Concordia Invitational Tournament. The Bulldogs absorbed a strong push from Concordia University, Chicago in Saturday (Jan. 26)’s CIT consolation game and held on for a 77-69 victory in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The response was a solid one for sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad, which struggled in the second half of Friday’s 86-70 loss to Concordia University, Wisconsin. CUNE will leave Michigan at 13-12 overall.

“Every day is a new day and a chance to play again,” Limback said. “It was a really good environment. We just wanted to bounce back and have a better effort. The guys responded and we got off to a pretty good start. In terms of the intensities levels, it was a good atmosphere.”

CUC (4-14) had its work cut out for it after watching the Bulldogs blister the net out of the halftime break. CUNE drilled 6-of-9 attempts from beyond the arc over a stretch of just over seven minutes to open the second half. At that point, the Bulldogs seemingly had control leading 55-33. The Cougars fell victim to CUNE’s typical top three scorers: Brevin Sloup, Tanner Shuck and Carter Kent. The torrid trio combined for 59 points.

“The ball was snapping around with a lot of different guys getting touches,” Sloup said. “When we’re shooting the ball like that a lot of guys get open looks. When we shoot like that it’s a lot of fun.”

That hot spurt was enough to fend off prolific scoring guard Mitch Pelissier, who poured in 31 points on 12-for-26 shooting from the floor. The 6-foot-3 native of Puyallup, Wash., has a way of lighting a fire under CUC fans. His exploits got a strong contingent of Cougar students rocking late in the game. A Pelissier steal and dish to Jalen Meeks in transition got CUC within five (71-66) in the final 30 seconds.

Just a few seconds later, the Bulldogs had finally slammed the door shot with the free throw shooting of Sloup and a key defensive stop. It was time to exhale after a tough afternoon in the turnover column (18-6) made life more difficult in trying to protect what had been a large lead. Fifteen Cougar offensive rebounds were also a factor in chipping away at the lead.

Sloup continues to be the team’s consistent offensive playmaker. He notched a game high 24 points in Friday’s defeat as part of a big weekend in the scoring column. He’s also the man the Bulldogs want at the free throw line with a chance to put a game away. He went 11-for-13 from the charity stripe in taking out the Cougars.

While Kent, Shuck and Sloup did much of the scoring, Sammy Adjei and Chuol Biel grabbed eight rebounds apiece. Adjei provided one of the game’s biggest highlights when he blocked a Pelissier layup off the backboard. Kent added six assists and five rebounds while Justin Wiersema hauled in seven boards.

CUC seems to have more talent than its record would indicate. Pelissier was joined in double figures by Hasson Basbous (12) and Landen Gladney, who posted 10 points and 15 rebounds. Like CUW, the Cougars are a member of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NCAA Division III).

It’s back to conference play now for the Bulldogs, who have just five games remaining in the regular season. They will welcome Dordt (15-9, 7-7 GPAC) to Walz Arena on Wednesday for an 8 p.m. CST tipoff. The Defenders took this season’s first meeting, 91-73, in Sioux Center, Iowa.

CIT All-Tournament
MVP - Jordan Johnson, CUW
Jake Jurss, CUW
Mitch Pelissier, CUC
Brevin Sloup, CUNE
Jalen Thompson, CUAA

Bulldogs return to GPAC play after CIT victory

Jan. 28, 2019

SEWARD, Neb. – Following a weekend stay at the 68th annual Concordia Invitational Tournament, the Concordia University men’s basketball team has returned home, ready to resume conference play. The Bulldogs will try to keep things rolling inside Walz Arena when Dordt makes a visit on Wednesday. Concordia will have an opportunity to avenge losses earlier this season in both of this week’s outings.

This Week

Wednesday, Jan. 30 vs. Dordt (15-9, 7-7), 8 p.m.
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country

Saturday, Feb. 2 at Northwestern (14-10, 8-7), 4 p.m.
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country

Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad went through a stretch of three games in four days last week. The Bulldogs notched victories over Doane, 70-53, and Concordia University, Chicago, 77-69. Sandwiched in between the two wins was an 86-70 loss at the hands of CIT champion Concordia University, Wisconsin. That defeat prevented CUNE from extending its CIT record of 27 championships in program history. After putting up 24 points versus CUW and 21 versus CUC, junior point guard Brevin Sloup was named to the CIT All-Tournament Team.

Sloup and company have played especially well at home of late. During the current run of four wins over their past five GPAC contests, the Bulldogs have won all three home games with each of them decided by double digit margins: 102-92 over No. 7 Briar Cliff, 66-51 over Midland and 70-53 over Doane. In the second half of those three games, Concordia has outscored its opponents in the second half, on average, 43.7 to 30.7. The Bulldogs are in the midst of a unique 12-game period during which nine have been decided by margins of 10 or more. Concordia is trying to improve upon a 1-6 GPAC road record.

The Seward High School product Sloup has been the team’s most consistent offensive performer. He now tops all GPAC players in free throw percentage (.867) while leading the team in scoring average (16.7). The Bulldogs are tough to beat when Carter Kent, Tanner Shuck and Sloup are clicking like they were versus Concordia-Chicago when they combined for 59 points. Though not counted upon as a prolific scorer, Chuol Biel has been a big addition in the post. He supplied one of last week’s biggest highlights when he blocked a shot and then promptly scored on the other end against Doane. He tops the GPAC in blocks per game (1.68).

Dordt ran away with a 91-73 win over Concordia in the first matchup that took place in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Jan. 2. The Defenders have been solid in their first season with Brian Van Haaften serving as head coach. It’s been an up-and-down run within conference play. Dordt has alternated wins and losses in GPAC action since New Year’s Day. Led by Garrett Franken, the Defenders have been a stellar rebounding team (20th nationally with a +6.5 rebound margin). The balanced team boasts six players averaging in double figures.

Northwestern had won five games in a row before losing two of its past three contests. That stretch included a surprisingly lopsided 72-49 loss at Doane over the weekend. Head coach Kris Korver’s squad has done a nice job of remaining competitive despite losing two of the GPAC’s top players to graduation after last season. The new star scorer is guard Trent Hilbrands, who is averaging 18.7 points per game. He recorded 14 points in a 76-59 Red Raider win in Seward on Jan. 5. Northwestern won at Dordt last week, 89-80.

Projected lineups
(Scoring average in parentheses)

Concordia (13-12, 5-10 GPAC)
G – Brevin Sloup, Jr., 5-9 (16.7)
G – Carter Kent, Fr., 6-2 (9.8)
G – Tanner Shuck, Jr., 6-4 (14.4)
G – Justin Wiersema, Fr., 6-3 (5.8)
F – Chuol Biel, Jr., 6-8 (7.1)

Dordt (15-9, 7-7 GPAC)
G – Ben Gesink, So., 6-3 (7.5)
G – Alec Henrickson, Sr., 6-2 (11.0)
F – Chad Barkema, Jr., 6-5 (12.3)
F – Garrett Franken, So., 6-7 (13.1)
F – Josh Van Lingen, Jr., 6-6 (10.5)

Northwestern (14-10, 8-7 GPAC)
G – Isaac Heyer, So., 6-3 (5.5)
G – Trent Hilbrands, So., 6-0 (18.7)
G – Parker Mulder, Sr., 6-2 (10.6)
G – Jay Small, So., 6-2 (14.4)
F – Steven Kragt, Sr., 6-7 (10.3)

Concordia shakes off slow start, wins fourth home clash in a row

Jan. 30, 2019

SEWARD, Neb. – The dramatic reversal of fortunes within conference play continues for the Concordia University men’s basketball team, which has suddenly made Walz Arena a treacherous road venue for the opposition. Visiting Dordt had hopes of running away with Wednesday (Jan. 30)’s contest while rattling off the first nine points of the evening. But Brevin Sloup and company responded and gutted out a 72-69 victory.

Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad has now won five of its last six games within GPAC play and has triumphed in four straight at home. The Bulldogs stand at 14-12 overall and at 6-10 inside the conference.

“Down the stretch we were able to hit some big shots,” Limback said. “I felt like Chuol (Biel)’s put back was huge in the last few minutes. Defensively we played pretty well on the first shot throughout the game. Dordt started to get it going there and cut into our lead. I’m so proud of the guys.”

It is undeniable. Sloup has become one of the GPAC’s most exciting offensive playmakers who features an array of moves that allows him to be effective even when up against much taller opponents. Sloup dug his team out of the early deficit by going on a personal 7-0 run. He later struck for a pair of 3-point field goals in the closing four minutes as the Defenders (15-10, 7-8 GPAC) tried to rally back. Sloup finished with a game high 22 points.

While Concordia needed Sloup’s offense on one end, it needed to play solid defensively on the other. Biel blocked two shots and altered several others in limiting Dordt to 44.3 percent shooting (31-for-70). The Defenders were also plagued by an Applebee’s special – 2-for-20 – from 3-point range. Even a 21-point outing from Alec Henrickson wasn’t enough to get the job done for a squad that had entered play with a solid 7-5 road mark.

The defensive results were a far cry from what transpired in the meeting in Sioux Center, Iowa, back on Jan. 2. Dordt shot 60 percent from the floor that day. The Defenders had been held to 69 points or less only three times previously this season.

Concordia finds itself in a spot that would have seemed unlikely when it sat at 1-9 in the GPAC earlier this month. The Bulldogs now seem capable of knocking off just about anyone who comes to Walz.

“It’s just us coming out as a team. We’re really mending and blending everything together right now,” said sophomore Ryan Holt. “It starts at practice. We’re working hard in practice and coming ready to play.”

Holt put up 10 points in 13 minutes of playing time off the bench. Justin Wiersema (13 points, five rebounds) joined Holt and Sloup in double figures in the scoring column. Biel put up six points and six rebounds. The aforementioned standouts helped pick up the slack on an evening when Tanner Shuck went 1-for-11 from the floor and netted three points.

There were just a combined eight free throws attempted in a game that saw a grand total of 16 fouls called. It made for a snappy contest that ended in less than an hour-and-a-half real time. It concluded with Dordt’s Garrett Franken misfiring on a long 3-point attempt at the buzzer.

The Bulldogs will now attempt to avenge a home loss earlier this season to Northwestern (14-10, 8-7 GPAC) when Saturday’s contest unfolds in Orange City, Iowa. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. CST from the Bultman Center. The Red Raiders will have been idle since suffering a 72-49 defeat at Doane on Jan. 26.

“We have to keep going. We can’t let up,” Limback said. “There are so many things we can improve on, but these guys bring it every day in practice and have the desire to do better. We’ll keep growing.”

Bulldogs cool off in Orange City

 Feb. 2, 2019

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – A halftime advantage evaporated for the Concordia University men’s basketball team, which was outclassed in the second half by host Northwestern on Saturday (Feb. 2). The Red Raiders outscored the Bulldogs, 54-37, over the final 20 minutes while pulling away for a 79-64 victory in Orange City, Iowa.

Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad has been red hot when playing inside Walz Arena. With a team still in the growth stages, that type of play has not always translated on the road. Concordia is now 14-13 overall and 6-11 in the GPAC.

“We did a pretty good job on their two leading scorers,” Limback said. “In the second half they were able to get the ball inside and we were fouling too much. Our offense wasn’t good enough to overcome it. I liked our defensive effort the majority of the first half. We guarded and got off to a good start, but the biggest key was our offense sputtered. We really never found a rhythm.”

In recent outings, the Bulldogs have put plenty of load weight on the shoulders of Seward High School product Brevin Sloup. He has responded well much more often than not. He put up 16 points on 6-for-16 shooting on Saturday. Sloup and Tanner Shuck (17 points; 7-for-14 shooting) combined for a large chunk of the offensive production. The rest of the team shot a combined 11-for-28 from the field.

Northwestern (15-10, 9-7 GPAC) was able to sweep the regular season series despite getting only a combined 13 points from Trent Hilbrands and Jay Small. That duo entered the day averaging 33.1 points collectively. The damage was done by the likes of Parker Mulder (17), Isaac Heyer (14) and Steven Kragt (12), who each reached double figures. The Red Raiders shot 26.5 percent from the field in the first half and then heated up to 60 percent in the second half. They also went 24-for-28 from the foul line.

Concordia’s cause was also hurt by the foul trouble of Chuol Biel. He played just 17 minutes, meaning Northwestern had the fortune of operating without its opposition’s top low post defender for more than half the game. The Bulldogs still managed to have a slight edge in rebounding, 37-36.

Limback’s crew was a bit too sloppy to have a chance of coming away with the road win. Concordia committed 18 turnovers to just eight by the Red Raiders. The Bulldogs are also working on developing consistent scoring options beyond Shuck and Sloup. In this contest, Sammy Adjei chipped in with 11 points and six rebounds off the bench.

“Brevin has been a warrior for us,” Limback said. “We need other guys to step up and do more offensively, especially on the road. We’re learning lessons and we’ll be ready for a big week next week.”

Northwestern is now 7-2 over its last nine games. It bounced back from a surprisingly lopsided 72-49 loss at Doane on Jan. 26. The Red Raiders currently reside in fifth place in the league standings.

The Bulldogs will face a stiff challenge on Wednesday when they hit the road to take on third-ranked Morningside (22-1, 15-1 GPAC) in an 8 p.m. CST tipoff in Sioux City, Iowa. The Mustangs’ lone loss this season came by an 86-82 score at then 18th-ranked Dakota Wesleyan on Jan. 2. Morningside held off Concordia, 77-70, inside Walz Arena on Nov. 28.

Top 20 foes make up this week's slate

Feb. 4, 2019

SEWARD, Neb. – At least on paper, this may be the most challenging week of the entire season for the Concordia University men’s basketball team. The Bulldogs will head to third-ranked Morningside on Wednesday before hosting No. 17 Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday in their 2018-19 home finale. Concordia will attempt to rebound from a 79-64 loss at Northwestern over the weekend.

This Week

Wednesday, Feb. 6 at No. 3 Morningside (22-1, 15-1), 8 p.m.
-Webcast: YouTube
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country

Saturday, Feb. 9 vs. No. 17 Dakota Wesleyan (17-7, 10-6), 4 p.m.
-Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country

Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad will want to bottle up the type of performances it has put together at home in recent weeks. The 72-69 win over Dordt on Jan. 30 extended its home win streak to four. Over that run, the Bulldogs have beaten three GPAC opponents by double digit margins with triumphs over then No. 7 Briar Cliff, 102-92, Midland, 66-51, and Doane, 70-53. Unfortunately, that success hasn’t carried over on the road. Within conference play, Concordia is 5-4 at home and 1-7 on the road.

In order to win in the GPAC, the Bulldogs have to have offensive production from the duo of Brevin Sloup and Tanner Shuck, who combine to average 30.9 points per game. Sloup has been carrying a hefty load of late. He poured in more than 20 points in three-straight outings leading up to the clash at Northwestern. The Seward High School has become one of the league’s more entertaining playmakers with his ability to score in a variety of ways. Among GPAC players, Sloup ranks first in free throw percentage (.871), sixth in assists per game (3.37), eighth in 3-point field goal percentage (.415) and ninth in scoring (16.9). Only one player in the GPAC has knocked down more treys than Sloup’s 78.

Shuck and Sloup also need help from the team’s role players. Transfer Chuol Biel has played his role exceptionally well as the team’s top low post defender. He has blocked at least one shot in 12-straight games. Meanwhile, freshmen starting guards Carter Kent and Justin Wiersema have shown plenty of promise. Wiersema’s insertion into the starting lineup has played a role in the team’s improved play in the second half of the season. Kent is the team’s third leading scorer at 9.5 points per game.

In the first matchup with Morningside, Concordia trailed by 13 points early in the second half but eventually rallied back to get within four in the final two minutes before the Mustangs held on for a 77-70 win in Seward. Morningside has the look of a team capable of competing for a national title. It leads the GPAC in both scoring defense (67.6) and field goal percentage defense (.429). Tyler Borchers is a handful in the post. He is averaging 15.3 points while shooting 71.1 percent from the floor. He helps open things up on the perimeter. The Mustangs shoot 39.2 percent from 3-point range.

The Bulldogs suffered their worst loss of the season at the hands of Dakota Wesleyan, 105-56, inside the Corn Palace back on Dec. 15. The Tigers are the only team this season to have knocked off Morningside. Even with that win on the résumé, Dakota Wesleyan can’t afford to slip up if it is to earn a bid to the national tournament. Head coach Matt Wilber’s squad can fill it up. Led by NAIA Division II’s fifth-ranked scorer in Ty Hoglund (26.5 ppg), the Tigers average more than 12 3-point field goals per game. Dakota Wesleyan has reached the national tournament four years running.

Projected lineups
(Scoring average in parentheses)

Concordia (14-13, 6-11 GPAC)
G – Brevin Sloup, Jr., 5-9 (16.9)
G – Carter Kent, Fr., 6-2 (9.5)
G – Tanner Shuck, Jr., 6-4 (14.0)
G – Justin Wiersema, Fr., 6-3 (5.9)
F – Chuol Biel, Jr., 6-8 (7.0)

Morningside (22-1, 15-1 GPAC)
G – Alex Borchers, Jr., 5-10 (8.7)
G – Brody Egger, Sr., 6-2 (12.2)
G – Zach Imig, So., 6-3 (12.4)
F – Matt Hahn, Jr., 6-3 (11.7)
C – Tyler Borchers, Jr., 6-7 (15.3)

Dakota Wesleyan (17-7, 10-6 GPAC)
G – Aaron Ahmadu, Sr., 5-10 (9.0)
G – Nick Harden, So., 5-10 (18.1)
G – Ty Hoglund, Jr., 6-3 (26.5)
F – Collin Kramer, Jr., 6-7 (7.0)
F – Samuel McCloud, Jr., 6-8 (9.9)

Kent scores 19 in loss at No. 2 Morningside

Feb. 6, 2019

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Concordia University men’s basketball team hit the road on Wednesday (Feb. 6) knowing it needed to put together one of its best outings of the season if it was to shock No. 2 Morningside on its home court. Big man Tyler Borchers wreaked havoc in the post for the first-place Mustangs, who dealt the Bulldogs a 79-64 loss inside the Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad had attempted to triumph within a gym that no one has won at since the 2016-17 season. At 14-14 overall and 6-12 in conference play, Concordia hopes to keep within the top eight of the GPAC standings.

“We talked about it before the game – we had to be the aggressor regardless of their ranking or their size,” Limback said. “That shouldn’t matter. I didn’t feel like we did that. We had some breakdowns defensively and gave up too many layups. Our offense was a little too stagnant. We went to the bench and our aggressiveness picked up. Klay Uher gave us a nice spark and Carter (Kent) was good throughout.

“We knew their big was going to score, but we gave up too many drives to the paint. Offensively we weren’t sharp enough to overcome it.”

Kent was a bright spot in a game that Morningside controlled most of the way. Kent notched a team high 19 points while connecting on 4-of-7 tries from long range. Kent spurred the Bulldogs back to within striking distance after they fell behind 24-9 out of the gate. During a 12-3 Concordia run, Kent splashed in a triple and made a nifty finish in transition. Morningside promptly called timeout with its lead cut to six.

That was about as much adversity as the Mustangs faced. They have possessed too much firepower for most teams to keep up with. Six of their players average 8.5 points or more. Borchers is a load in the post. He finished with a game high 26 points on 11-for-14 shooting from the field on Wednesday. Zach Imig (12 points, six rebounds) was the only other Morningside player to reach double figures for a balanced squad.

About the only thing the Mustangs (23-1, 16-1 GPAC) did not do well was make 3-point shots (3-for-14). They shot 60 percent (33-for-55) overall and committed only nine turnovers. Morningside led by as many as 20 points while taking the drama out of the second half.

Brevin Sloup joined Kent in double figures with 12 points (5-for-13 from the field). Tanner Shuck added nine points and four rebounds and Uher contributed seven points off the bench. Sammy Adjei provided one of the game’s most eye-popping moments when he followed a missed layup with an authoritative put-back slam.

The Bulldogs will return to Walz Arena on Saturday for their final home contest of the 2018-19 campaign. Concordia will welcome No. 18 Dakota Wesleyan (18-8, 11-7 GPAC) to town for a 4 p.m. CST tipoff. Back on Dec. 15, the Tigers handed the Bulldogs their most lopsided defeat of the season, 105-56. Dakota Wesleyan has won the last four matchups in the series.

“It’s great experience for us,” said Limback of these clashes with the league’s top teams. “We might have Morningside again (in the GPAC tournament). As the game tonight went on we settled in a bit. We have to learn how hard to compete and the amount of execution and focus it takes to win in these big games.”

Offense sputters, rally comes up short in home finale

Feb. 9, 2019

SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University men’s basketball team did a fine job of holding down a Dakota Wesleyan squad that features plenty of firepower. The Bulldogs just couldn’t muster enough of their own offense while slipping up in their 2018-19 home finale, 68-63, at the hands of the 18th-ranked Tigers on Saturday (Feb. 9).

The loss snapped a four-game home win streak for sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad. Concordia (14-15, 6-13 GPAC) is still hoping to hold onto a top eight spot in the standings required to qualify for the GPAC tournament.

“I’m proud of our effort to come back but I’m disappointed that it had to come to that,” Limback said. “We want to see the growth happen quickly. It was nice to see our guys compete and make it interesting. We just have to get better. We have to keep fighting.”

Things have been a bit of a work-in-progress offensively. The Bulldogs heated up enough in the second half to inject some drama into the affair. Instead of wilting down 47-27 in the second half, Concordia roared back. It chiseled that deficit to down to five when Gage Smith dropped home a triple with 38 seconds left. Smith gave the Bulldogs a lift by knocking down three treys off the bench.

When it’s needed, Tiger star Ty Hoglund can put a team on his back. He racked up a game high 28 points. He helped keep Concordia at arm’s length by netting 12 points over the final 10:04 of game time. With one last gasp in the final seconds, Brevin Sloup misfired on a 3-point attempt and the clock expired during a scrum for the rebound.

If nothing else, the Bulldogs gave a much better account of themselves than they did in a 105-56 blowout loss at the Corn Palace back on Dec. 15. This time around Concordia fought back by shooting 53.1 percent in the second half. It was a drastic turnaround from a first half that saw the Bulldogs score just 16 points on 7-for-29 (.241) shooting. They went the final 6:29 of the half without scoring a single point.

Sloup (11 points, four rebounds and three assists) was the lone Concordia player to reach double figures. Not far behind were Smith, Carter Kent (nine), Tanner Shuck (nine), Sammy Adjei (eight) and Grant Wragge (eight). Adjei also pulled down eight rebounds. The Bulldogs fell despite holding Dakota Wesleyan to 37.7 percent shooting.

The Tigers needed this one in their quest to reach the national tournament. On Saturday, Collin Kramer (14 points, four assists), Larson Mason (14 points, 13 rebounds) and Aaron Ahmadu (12 points, five assists) aided the cause led by Hoglund.

The Bulldogs will wait a full week before closing out the regular season next Saturday (Feb. 16) at Mount Marty (6-21, 2-16 GPAC). The game time in Yankton, S.D., has been bumped up to 3:30 p.m. CST from the originally scheduled 4 p.m. tipoff. Concordia hopes to avenge a 70-69 home loss handed to it at the buzzer by the Lancers on Dec. 8.

“We have a full week of practice so we have to maintain some offensive confidence, clean up our cutting action and our screening action,” Limback said. “Our guys will be battling really hard in practice. Whoever’s out there, I feel like we’re getting better.”

Bulldogs hope to secure GPAC tournament bid Saturday at Mount Marty

Feb. 14, 2019

SEWARD, Neb. – With one game remaining in the regular season, the Concordia University men’s basketball team is still working on locking up a spot in the eight-team GPAC tournament. There are a few different scenarios that would give the Bulldogs the No. 8 seed, but the one they would like most involves them winning at Mount Marty on Saturday. The game is set to tip off at 3:30 p.m. CST from Cimpl Arena.

Tyler Cavalli will be in Yankton, S.D., to call the action for 104.9 Max Country. The game can also be streamed live via Mount Marty’s Stretch Internet portal.

After a run of five wins out of six GPAC contests, sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad has dropped three in a row, two of which were on the road (including at No. 2 Morningside) and another came against No. 18 Dakota Wesleyan. Striving for consistency offensively has been a season long endeavor for Concordia. Over the past three games, the Bulldogs have notched scoring totals of 64, 64 and 63 points, respectively.

The Bulldogs have shown they can be dangerous when the trio of Karter Cent, Tanner Shuck and Brevin Sloup is clicking at the same time. Those three standouts combined for 73 points in Concordia’s upset of then seventh-ranked Briar Cliff on Jan. 12. The high possession nature of that game was the exception for the Bulldogs most of this season. The slower pace has played a part in Concordia games averaging 145.4 combined points through the first 29 games this season.

The Bulldogs hope their offensive heat up in the second half last week versus Dakota Wesleyan will carry over to this Saturday. After scoring only 16 points in the first half against the Tigers, Concordia shot 53.1 percent from the field and netted 47 points over the game’s final 20 minutes. That type of production could help the Bulldogs avenge their 70-69 home loss earlier this season to Mount Marty. Colby Johnson made the Lancers a winner in that instance with a 3-point shot at the buzzer.

Mount Marty has dropped its last 11 conference games since escaping Walz with a win. Johnson has continued to be the team’s most reliable scoring option, averaging 16.3 points per game. Other than Johnson and Jailen Billings, the Lancers have had difficulty putting the ball in the bucket. They rank 11th in the GPAC in both scoring offense (67.9) and field goal percentage offense (.400). Something will have to give on Saturday. Mount Marty is 1-8 in GPAC homes games while Concordia is 1-8 in conference road games.

Should the Bulldogs lock up the GPAC’s No. 8 seed, they would then look forward to playing in the conference tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday (Feb. 20). They would be at top-seeded Morningside, which has already clinched the outright GPAC regular season title.

Projected lineups
(Scoring average in parentheses)

Concordia (14-15, 6-13 GPAC)
G – Brevin Sloup, Jr., 5-9 (16.5)
G – Carter Kent, Fr., 6-2 (9.8)
G – Tanner Shuck, Jr., 6-4 (13.7)
G – Justin Wiersema, Fr., 6-3 (5.6)
F – Chuol Biel, Jr., 6-8 (6.8)

Mount Marty (6-22, 2-17 GPAC)
G – Chase Altenburg, Fr., 6-3 (4.0)
G – Jailen Billings, So., 5-10 (15.2)
G – Colby Johnson, Jr., 6-2 (16.3)
F – Saba Gvedashvili, So., 6-7 (5.3)
F – Jonah Larson, Fr., 6-6 (6.6)

Kent, Dawgs avenge earlier loss, clinch GPAC's eighth seed

Feb. 17, 2019

YANKTON, S.D. – As it turned out, the Concordia University men’s basketball team could have fallen on Saturday (Feb. 16) and still would have reached the GPAC tournament. But the Bulldogs did not want to simply back their way in. They avenged a buzzer beater home loss from December by clipping host Mount Marty, 84-79, while closing out the 2018-19 regular season.

Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad returned to an even .500 overall (15-15) while finishing at 7-13 in league play (eighth place). The latest win was supported by improved offensive output.

“We ran an efficient offense. We just turned it over too much in the first half,” Limback said. “We got better in the second half and I thought we had good balance. Carter (Kent) was really good throughout the game and Klay Uher gave us a lift off the bench along with Sammy (Adjei). They both really did some good stuff.

“On the defensive end, their guards really got hot but we got the stops when we needed them.”

The Lancers never let Concordia pull too far away. The Bulldogs moved their lead to its largest margin of eight points when Kent splashed in a trey at the 5:24 mark of the second half. Mount Marty eventually whittled that advantage all the way down to one (78-77) with a Jonah Larson triple with 2:24 left. To its credit, Concordia did not relinquish the advantage.

An Adjei bucket with 25 seconds left made it an 82-79 Bulldog lead. Kent finally iced the contest by netting a pair of free throws with 10 seconds showing on the clock. For the second time in three outings, Kent put exactly 19 points on the board. The freshman from Crete went 6-for-8 from the floor and 5-for-6 from the foul line.

Mount Marty (6-23, 2-18 GPAC) knew its season would end on Saturday no matter what. Jailen Billings (31 points) and Colby Johnson (21 points) tried to make the most of it as a two-man wrecking crew. Johnson had been the arch villain in the 70-69 Lancer win at Walz Arena on Dec. 8 when he nailed the game winner at the buzzer.

Johnson and company just couldn’t match Concordia’s attack. The Bulldogs shot 56.6 percent (30-for-53) from the floor, including 11-for-20 from 3-point range. Adjei and Brevin Sloup notched 16 points apiece and Tanner Shuck (3-for-5 from beyond the arc) added 12 points. Uher chipped in with nine points in his 15 minutes off the bench. Sloup and the Dawgs were plus-four (17-13) in turnover margin.

Concordia made a nice recovery in the second half of the GPAC season. After starting out 1-9 in league play, the Bulldogs went 6-4 over their final 10 conference regular season outings.

“We might as a team after Christmas and tried to give ourselves a fresh start to the season,” Limback said. “We knew we couldn’t win the league anymore but everyone wanted to at least make the conference tournament. Usually you have to get to eight GPAC wins to guarantee it and seven you have a chance. We were able to refocus and some of our young guys have come on.”

Now it’s conference tournament time. As a result of its solid play on the back stretch of the league schedule, Concordia will be headed to top-seeded Morningside (25-2, 18-2 GPAC) for a 7 p.m. CST tipoff in Sioux City, Iowa, on Wednesday. The Mustangs swept the regular season series from the Bulldogs. The two sides just met in Sioux City on Feb. 6.

Bulldogs headed back to Morningside for GPAC quarterfinals

Feb. 18, 2019

SEWARD, Neb. – The reward for making the conference tournament is a second trip to Morningside in a two-week span for the Concordia University men’s basketball team. As the GPAC regular season champion, the Mustangs have earned home court for as long as they remain alive in the conference tournament. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs secured the No. 8 seed by going 6-4 over their final 10 GPAC regular season games.

Concordia and Morningside will tip off at 7 p.m. CST on Wednesday from the Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center in Sioux City, Iowa. The game will not be broadcast on 104.9 Max Country but can be stream live via Morningside’s athletics website.

Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad ended the regular season in positive fashion, winning 84-79 at Mount Marty. That victory, coupled with losses by both Doane and Midland, put Concordia comfortably into the conference tournament as the eighth seed. Such qualification for the postseason would have seemed unlikely back on Jan. 5 when the Bulldogs fell to 1-9 in league play. A turnaround began when Tanner Shuck led Concordia back for an improbable win at Hastings on Jan. 9.

It’s going to take an upset to end the Bulldogs’ prolonged drought in the postseason. The program’s last GPAC tournament victory came in 2009 when then head coach Grant Schmidt’s squad made a run to the conference semifinals. Under Limback, Concordia has now faced a road matchup in the quarterfinals for the fifth season in a row. The first three of those trips ended in losses at Dakota Wesleyan.

The Bulldogs would love to duplicate the shooting percentage of 56.6 that they put up last week at Mount Marty. They will need a solid offensive night to keep up with a Morningside squad that ranks second nationally in field goal percentage (.524). Budding freshman Carter Kent has had success this season against the Mustangs having poured in a combined 35 points in the two regular season meetings. He is coming off a 19-point outing at Mount Marty. Of course, the offense is always much more prolific when Brevin Sloup and Tanner Shuck are knocking down perimeter shots. Among GPAC players, they rank ninth and 21st, respectively, in 3-point field goal percentage.

Head coach Jim Sykes has about as balanced of a squad as one can find. Concordia will have to figure out how to better contain big man Tyler Borchers, who went off for 26 points on 11-for-14 shooting in the meeting two weeks ago. Opponents also have to keep tabs on outside shooters in Brody Egger and Matt Hahn. The Mustangs are 11-0 at home with their lone losses this season coming at Dakota Wesleyan and at Jamestown. Morningside has won each of the last six in the series with the Bulldogs.

The winner on Wednesday will advance to the semifinals on Saturday and take on whichever squad emerges in the matchup between fourth-seeded Dakota Wesleyan and fifth-seeded Northwestern.

Projected lineups
(Scoring average in parentheses)

Concordia (15-15, 7-13 GPAC)
G – Brevin Sloup, Jr., 5-9 (16.5)
G – Carter Kent, Fr., 6-2 (10.1)
G – Tanner Shuck, Jr., 6-4 (13.6)
G – Justin Wiersema, Fr., 6-3 (5.4)
F – Chuol Biel, Jr., 6-8 (6.6)

Morningside (25-2, 18-2 GPAC)
G – Alex Borchers, Jr., 5-10 (9.1)
G – Brody Egger, Sr., 6-2 (11.9)
G – Zach Imig, So., 6-3 (12.6)
F – Matt Hahn, Jr., 6-3 (11.7)
C – Tyler Borchers, Jr., 6-7 (15.6)

2019 GPAC Men’s Basketball Tournament

Quarterfinals – Wednesday, Feb. 20
No. 8 Concordia (15-15, 7-13) at No. 1 Morningside (25-2, 18-2), 7 p.m.
No. 5 Northwestern (17-12, 11-9) at No. 4 Dakota Wesleyan (21-8, 13-7), 8 p.m.
No. 6 Dordt (18-12, 10-10) at No. 3 Briar Cliff (20-7, 14-6), 7 p.m.
No. 7 Hastings (19-11, 10-10) at No. 2 Jamestown (25-5, 15-5), 6 p.m.

Semifinals – Saturday, Feb. 23
No. 1/8 winner vs. No. 4/5 winner, time TBA
No. 3/6 winner vs. No. 2/7 winner, time TBA

Championship – Tuesday, Feb. 26
Time TBA

Season concludes at No. 2 Morningside in GPAC quarterfinals

Feb. 20, 2019

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Concordia University men’s basketball team traveled to Sioux City, Iowa, on Wednesday (Feb. 20) knowing it had little margin for error if it was going to shock second-ranked Morningside in the quarterfinal round of the GPAC tournament. The Bulldogs started out 8-for-13 from 3-point range and held a lead late in the first half before eventually running out of gas. The Mustangs pulled away for a 97-74 win inside the Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center.

The result means sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad ends the 2018-19 season with a 15-16 overall record. After a rough 1-9 start to the league schedule, Concordia recovered in time to qualify for the conference tournament.

“Our theme this year was to grow and try to get better,” Limback said. “We certainly did that in moments. I just want our guys to know that you can’t settle for where we’re at. We have to take it to a whole new level. From where we were midpoint of the conference, we had to reset our goals. I felt like guys bought into that and there was significant growth during that period.”

That growth showed in the confidence that allowed the Bulldogs to roar out of the gates believing they could hang with GPAC regular season champion Morningside (26-2). Two new pieces to the team this season in transfer Sammy Adjei and freshman Carter Kent did major damage on the offensive end. Kent stroked four treys and put up a team high-tying 18 points to cap off a fine rookie season. Meanwhile, Adjei made all seven of his tries from the floor and notched 18 points before fouling out in 16 minutes of action.

Concordia pushed the Mustangs hard enough that they barely bothered to go very deep into the bench until the latter stages of the game. Every Morningside starter reached double figures with Tyler Borchers, Brody Egger and Matt Hahn netting 20 points apiece. The Bulldogs could not get nearly enough stops down the stretch to keep pace. The Mustangs shot 60 percent (39-for-65) for the game. They were an otherworldly 66.7 percent from the floor in the second half.

With a positive offseason of development, Concordia can certainly make a leap forward in 2019-20. The most experienced players on the roster this season were juniors Tanner Shuck and Brevin Sloup. The Seward High School product Sloup became a dependable offensive playmaker in his first season as a starter. He chipped in with 13 points, four assists and four rebounds on Wednesday.

Sloup and company had their moments this winter. The one that stands out most was the 102-92 upset of then seventh-ranked Briar Cliff on Jan. 12. Sloup poured in a career high 33 points in that memorable victory. With Shuck and Sloup and this season’s newcomers back in the mix, there are reasons for optimism moving forward.

Said Limback, “We talked about it after the game. This has to be a great offseason. It has to be an offseason of development. We want to raise the expectations. We certainly don’t want to be on the road next year in the GPAC tournament and put ourselves in this type of situation again.”

Shuck tabbed Academic All-District by CoSIDA

Feb. 21, 2019

2018-19 Google Cloud Academic All-District® Men's Basketball Teams

SEWARD, Neb. – An NAIA Scholar-Athlete last season, junior Tanner Shuck has been voted as a 2018-19 Google Cloud Academic All-District® Men’s Basketball First Team selection, as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Thursday (Feb. 21). Shuck is the first Concordia men’s basketball player to earn the award since Chandler Folkerts in 2017.

The CoSIDA Academic All-Distrct® Men’s Basketball Teams have been released to recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. For more information about the Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, please visit http://cosida.com. District 3 includes the states of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Shuck is majoring in secondary education and mathematics and sports a near spotless grade point average. The native of Grand Island, Neb., completed the 2018-19 season with averages of 13.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game while starting all 31 contests. Over 92 career games as a Bulldog, Shuck has totaled 1,123 points, 304 rebounds, 202 assists and 89 steals. He has netted 231 career 3-point field goals. He was an honorable mention All-GPAC honoree last season.

First-team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the Google Cloud Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team (if applicable) Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in mid-March.

Kent named GPAC Freshman of the Year, Sloup second team

Feb. 27, 2019 

2018-19 Men’s Basketball All-GPAC Team

SEWARD, Neb. – A trio of Bulldogs represented the Concordia University men’s basketball team with 2018-19 all-conference mention, as announced by the GPAC on Wednesday (Feb. 27). Junior guard Brevin Sloup garnered second team all-conference honors while Carter Kent was chosen as the GPAC Freshman of the Year. Kent was joined by teammate Tanner Shuck with honorable mention accolades.

Kent is just the second Bulldog during the GPAC era (2000-present) to earn the conference freshman of the year award (Joel Haywood picked up the same honor in 2011-12). The native of Crete, Neb., immediately jumped into the starting lineup as a rookie and averaged 10.4 points per game (third on the team). The all-time leading scorer at Crete High School also totaled 90 rebounds and 64 assists while playing in all 31 games. He shot 39.4 percent from the floor, 33.8 percent from 3-point range and 76.3 percent from the free throw line. Kent’s season high of 26 points was achieved in the 102-92 upset of then No. 7 Briar Cliff on Jan. 12.

Sloup starred as the team’s most dependable offensive weapon in his first season as a starter in 2018-19. The Seward High School product led the team with a scoring average of 16.4 points (11th among GPAC players). Sloup also averaged 3.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists while starting all 31 games. He turned in shooting percentages of 43.5 from the field, 40.8 from 3-point range and 86.5 from the free throw line. Sloup racked up a career high 33 points in the victory over Briar Cliff and was named the GPAC Player of the Week. One of the league’s top shooters, Sloup finished with GPAC rankings of second in free throw percentage and 10th in 3-point field goal percentage.

This past season Shuck became the 30th member of the program’s 1,000-point club. Now tied for 24th on the program’s all-time scoring list (1,123), the Grand Island, Neb., native averaged 13.5 points in 2018-19 and led the team with 40 steals while starting all 31 games. Shuck shot 40.7 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from 3-point range and 82.3 percent from the foul line. His shining moment of the campaign was a 23-point performance that included the game-winning 3-point shot at Hastings on Jan. 9.

Sixth-year head coach Ben Limback’s squad finished the season with a 15-16 overall record. It placed eighth in the GPAC standings.

Four men's basketball Bulldogs pick up Scholar-Athlete honors

Mar. 11, 2019

2018-19 Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athletes

SEWARD, Neb. – A quartet of Bulldogs represented the Concordia University men’s basketball program on the list of 2018-19 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes, as announced by the NAIA on Monday (March 11). All four honorees are juniors, including repeat winner Tanner Shuck, who is a senior academically.

In order to be nominated by an institution’s head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, must appear on the eligibility certificate for the sport and have attended two full years as a non-transfer or one full year as a transfer. A total of 179 men’s basketball student-athletes across the nation were named 2019 Scholar-Athletes by the NAIA.

Concordia University ranks as the NAIA’s all-time leader in number of Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes with 1,429 and counting. The Bulldogs have been a regular national leader for both scholar-athletes and scholar-teams and are coming off a 2017-18 academic year that resulted in 77 more scholar-athletes and 20 scholar-teams (third most in the nation). Also in 2017-18, seven Bulldog student-athletes garnered both CoSIDA Academic All-District and CoSIDA Academic All-America accolades.

2019 Concordia Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athletes

Jacob Jennings, Jr. | Shawnee, Kan. | Business
Tanner Shuck, Jr. | Grand Island, Neb. | Secondary Education/Mathematics
Riley Tegtmeier, Jr. | Davenport, Neb. | Physics
Anthony Wolter, Jr. | Saginaw, Mich.

Grow Dawgs learn lessons in up-and-down season

Mar. 21, 2019

Someday the Concordia University men’s basketball program would like to be able to point back to 2018-19 as a necessary season of growing pains on the road to future success. At their best, the Bulldogs defeated eventual national quarterfinalist Briar Cliff and went on the road to knock off Heart of America Athletic Conference tournament champion Peru State College. Concordia also endured a 1-9 start to conference play that included a home loss at the buzzer to Mount Marty.

Such inconsistencies probably should not have come at a complete shock for head coach Ben Limback’s squad, which returned only one starter (Tanner Shuck) this past winter. The rotation was chalk full of freshmen and transfers throughout a campaign that was quite different than any other during Limback’s tenure.

“I think there are a number of things we learned from this year,” Limback said. “Individually, we had some guys who had either never played in a college game or had never played in a GPAC game that learned how to prepare and the importance of every game. The urgency that we lacked in the beginning of the year with some of our youth changed in the second half of the GPAC season. We really didn’t have much of an identity at the beginning of the year. We won some nonconference games at the beginning with some good passion and energy, but I think we saw through the first go-round of the GPAC we really didn’t have that identity. In the second half of conference play we settled in a little bit better and it showed in our results. We learned a lot.”

The Bulldogs finished at 15-16 overall after coming up empty in the quarterfinals of the GPAC tournament once again. That this team even qualified for the postseason was an accomplishment when considering that the team scuffled through an eight-game GPAC skid. Concordia’s trajectory went back upward starting with a frantic comeback win at Hastings that featured a game-winning trey from Shuck. The Bulldogs went a solid 6-4 over the final 10 games of the conference season.

None of the victories were more memorable than the one that occurred on Jan. 12 when then seventh-ranked Briar Cliff visited Seward. It was the afternoon Brevin Sloup became “The Mayor.” During a nutty seven-minute stretch in the second half, Sloup poured in 18 of his career high 33 points. He piloted an offense that shot 58.2 percent from the floor and got a career best 26 points from budding freshman Carter Kent.

Sloup’s emergence as the starting point guard stands above the rest as the most intriguing storyline of the season. The 5-foot-9 playmaker graduated from Seward High as the school’s all-time leading scorer, but it was rare for him to be in the spotlight as a freshman or sophomore at Concordia. That changed this past season when he led the team by averaging 16.4 points per game.

“We didn’t know for sure what to expect,” Limback said. “He worked really hard this past summer and got stronger. He is so gifted offensively and we needed that firepower. I think he always had that ability to score, it was more about his improvement defensively. He also took on more of a leadership role. I was most impressed with his ability to take care of the ball.”

The Bulldogs were a dangerous team when the backcourt of Kent, Shuck and Sloup clicked like it did against Briar Cliff. Kent may have the most potential of any player on the current roster. He became just the second Concordia player during the GPAC era to earn freshman of the year honors while averaging 10.4 points per game. Kent enjoyed some of his biggest outbursts versus GPAC champion Morningside. The future looks bright for the Crete High School product.

“I think the sky’s the limit with Carter,” Limback said. “It’s special when you have a guy with ability who also has the drive and the thirst to get better like Carter. He has a strong desire for perfection and to learn. I feel like he could go off for 40 before his career is over because he can create his own shot, he has a quick release, he’s smart and he’s getting stronger. He is gifted and has the desire to get better every day.”

Another freshman in guard Justin Wiersema also made a significant impact while the frontcourt underwent an overhaul. By season’s end, transfers Sammy Adjei and Chuol Biel were the most reliable post presences. Biel proved to be a big addition for what he did defensively as a shot blocker with length. Adjei made his Bulldog debut just before New Year’s. He seemed to be hitting his stride down the stretch. Over the final two games, he totaled a combined 34 points on 13-for-15 shooting from the floor.

Nine different players had opportunities to start games as Limback worked to find the right mix. The constants were Kent, Shuck and Sloup (the latter two started all 31 games). In the win over Briar Cliff, Shuck surpassed 1,000 career points. The scoring punch from the three aforementioned names was much needed for a team that sometimes struggled at the offensive end.

Very little came easy, but Limback (recorded 200th career head coaching victory on Nov. 19, 2018) believes some good came out of it. The team motto of “Grow Dawgs” emphasized the need to come together quickly.

Said Limback, “We had to come together and figure things out. There were a lot of moving pieces there. I’m most proud that everyone bought in and got to know each other to the point where we were competitive. We wanted to do better than what we did, but it’s not easy to bring groups of that many new guys together and accomplish what we did.”

More continuity moving forward should lend to better results on the court. Limback is excited to have a much bigger group to observe over the summer as compared to a year ago. More local flavor is coming on board with this next recruiting class to join a program that will not graduate a single senior. There is no time to waste if this program is going to get back to competing for national tournament bids. Said Limback, “I feel what separates a lot of teams in our league is the level of commitment.”

Sloup headlines Bulldog All-Nebraska selections

Apr. 17, 2019

SEWARD, Neb. – A trio of standouts from the Concordia University men’s basketball team collected NAIA/NCAA Division III All-Nebraska accolades this April, as chosen by the Omaha World-Herald. Junior Brevin Sloup highlighted the group by landing on the All-Nebraska second team. Meanwhile, freshman Carter Kent and junior Tanner Shuck received honorable mention recognition.

Sloup starred as the team’s most dependable offensive weapon in his first season as a starter in 2018-19. The Seward High School product led the team with a scoring average of 16.4 points (11th among GPAC players). Sloup also averaged 3.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists while starting all 31 games. He turned in shooting percentages of 43.5 from the field, 40.8 from 3-point range and 86.5 from the free throw line. Sloup racked up a career high 33 points in the victory over Briar Cliff and was named the GPAC Player of the Week. One of the league’s top shooters, Sloup finished with GPAC rankings of second in free throw percentage and 10th in 3-point field goal percentage.

Kent became the second Bulldog during the GPAC era (2000-present) to earn the conference freshman of the year award (Joel Haywood picked up the same honor in 2011-12). The native of Crete, Neb., immediately jumped into the starting lineup as a rookie and averaged 10.4 points per game (third on the team). The all-time leading scorer at Crete High School also totaled 90 rebounds and 64 assists while playing in all 31 games. He shot 39.4 percent from the floor, 33.8 percent from 3-point range and 76.3 percent from the free throw line. Kent’s season high of 26 points was achieved in the 102-92 upset of then No. 7 Briar Cliff on Jan. 12.

This past season Shuck became the 30th member of the program’s 1,000-point club. Now tied for 24th on the program’s all-time scoring list (1,123), the Grand Island, Neb., native averaged 13.5 points in 2018-19 and led the team with 40 steals while starting all 31 games. Shuck shot 40.7 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from 3-point range and 82.3 percent from the foul line. His shining moment of the campaign was a 23-point performance that included the game-winning 3-point shot at Hastings on Jan. 9.

NAIA/NCAA Division III All-Nebraska Men’s Basketball Team

First team
G: Ryan Garver, Nebraska Wesleyan, 6-3, sr., 15.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 7.6 apg
G: Brandon Jones, Peru State, 6-6, sr., 16.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 3.6 apg
F: Cooper Cook, Nebraska Wesleyan, 6-5, sr., 15.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 75 3s
F: Lyle Hexom, Peru State, 6-8, sr., 20.9 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 111 3-pointers
F: Bart Hiscock, Hastings, 6-6, jr., 18.0 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.5 apg
Captain: Lyle Hexom, Peru State

Second team
G: Bryce Parsons, Midland, 6-2, jr., 16.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 5.0 apg
G: Nate Schimonitz, Nebraska Wesleyan, 6-4, jr., 16.5 ppg, 4.4 apg, 43 3s
G: Brevin Sloup, Concordia, 5-9, jr., 16.4 ppg, 3.3 apg, 87 3-pointers
G: Sequan Walker, Bellevue, 6-3, sr., 13.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.6 apg
F: Patrick Burnett, York, 6-4, sr., 16.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.3 apg

Honorable mention: Bellevue: Josh Meier, Richard Reed. Concordia: Carter Kent, Tanner Shuck. Doane: Koh Flippin, Nick Kornieck, Anthony Laravie, Trace Tupper. Hastings: Shane Chamberlain, Kevin Miller. Midland: Malik Martin, Bowen Sandquist. Nebraska Wesleyan: Jack Hiller, Clay Reimers. Peru State: Jamil Maddred, KeShawn Wilson. York: Mike Tolbert.