2021-22 Men's Basketball Schedule/Results
28-7 overall | 15-5 GPAC (T-1st); GPAC Tournament Champs | Season Stats | Roster
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time/Result | Record |
| Hastings College Classic: Oct. 29-30 | ||||
| Oct. 29 | Friends University (Kan.) | Hastings, Neb. | W, 87-57 | 1-0 |
| Oct. 30 | Presentation College (S.D.) | Hastings, Neb. | W, 96-72 | 2-0 |
| 22nd annual Cattle Classic: Nov. 5-6 | ||||
| Nov. 5 | Waldorf University (Iowa) | Seward, Neb. | W, 89-72 | 3-0 |
| Nov. 6 | (18) Benedictine College (Kan.) | Seward, Neb. | W, 68-53 | 4-0 |
| Nov. 9 | Peru State College | Seward, Neb. | W, 91-90 | 5-0 |
| Nov. 13 | *Briar Cliff University | Sioux City, Iowa | L, 48-65 | 5-1, 0-1 |
| Nov. 17 | *Midland University | Seward, Neb. | W, 80-63 | 6-1, 1-1 |
| Nov. 20 | *Dordt University | Sioux Center, Iowa | W, 84-82 | 7-1, 2-1 |
| Nov. 23 | *(10) University of Jamestown | Seward, Neb. | W, 92-76 | 8-1, 3-1 |
| Nov. 27 | Rockhurst University (Mo.) (Exhibition) | Kansas City, Mo. | L, 70-87 | |
| Dec. 1 | *(18) Morningside University | Sioux City, Iowa | L, 77-79 | 8-2, 3-2 |
| Dec. 4 | *Northwestern College | Seward, Neb. | W, 95-78 | 9-2, 4-2 |
| Dec. 8 | *Mount Marty University | Seward, Neb. | W, 87-72 | 10-2, 5-2 |
| Dec. 11 | *Hastings College | Hastings, Neb. | W, 81-66 | 11-2, 6-2 |
| Daytona Beach Shootout: Dec. 19-21 | ||||
| Dec. 19 | (8) William Jessup University (Calif.) | Daytona Beach, Fla. | L, 62-70 | 11-3 |
| Dec. 21 | Rochester University (Mich.) | Daytona Beach, Fla. | W, 71-64 | 12-3 |
| Dec. 29 | Ottawa University (Kan.) | Ottawa, Kan. | W, 91-82 | 13-3 |
| Jan. 1 | *Doane University | Seward, Neb. | W, 60-50 | 14-3, 7-2 |
| Jan. 5 | *Mount Marty University | Yankton, S.D. | L, 67-70 (OT) | 14-4, 7-3 |
| Jan. 8 | *Dakota Wesleyan University | Seward, Neb. | W, 88-71 | 15-4, 8-3 |
| Jan. 15 | *(11) University of Jamestown | Jamestown, N.D. | W, 82-79 | 16-4, 9-3 |
| Jan. 19 | *Morningside University | Seward, Neb. | W, 83-68 | 17-4, 10-3 |
| Jan. 22 | *Northwestern College | Orange City, Iowa | L, 77-92 | 17-5, 10-4 |
| Jan. 26 | *Hastings College | Seward, Neb. | W, 82-68 | 18-5, 11-4 |
| 70th Concordia Invitational Tournament: Jan. 28-29 | ||||
| Jan. 28-29 | *EVENT CANCELED* | Seward, Neb. | ||
| Feb. 2 | *Midland University | Fremont, Neb. | W, 92-87 | 19-5, 12-4 |
| Feb. 5 | *Dordt University | Seward, Neb. | W, 92-62 | 20-5, 13-4 |
| Feb. 9 | *Doane University | Crete, Neb. | L, 50-54 | 20-6, 13-5 |
| Feb. 16 | *(22) Briar Cliff University | Seward, Neb. | W, 74-73 | 21-6, 14-5 |
| Feb. 19 | *Dakota Wesleyan University | Mitchell, S.D. | W, 86-70 | 22-6, 15-5 |
| GPAC Tournament | ||||
| Feb. 23 | Morningside University (GPAC Quarterfinals) | Seward, Neb. | W, 83-70 | 23-6 |
| Feb. 26 | Doane University (GPAC Semifinals) | Seward, Neb. | W, 67-65 | 24-6 |
| March 1 | University of Jamestown (GPAC Championship) | Seward, Neb. | W, 77-70 | 25-6 |
| NAIA National Championships | ||||
| March 11 | Indiana University Northwest (Opening Round) | Omaha, Neb. | W, 96-78 | 26-6 |
| March 12 | Marian University (Opening Round) | Omaha, Neb. | W, 90-67 | 27-6 |
| March 18 | Indiana University Kokomo (Rd of 16) | Kansas City, Mo. | W, 75-65 | 28-6 |
| March 19 | Talladega College (Quarterfinals) | Kansas City, Mo. | L, 69-77 | 28-7 |
2021-22 Roster
| No. | Varsity Roster | Pos. | Ht. | Year | Hometown | Previous School |
| 2 | Sam Scarpelli | G | 5-9 | Sr. | Portland, Ore. | Reynolds HS / Clark College |
| 3 | Joel Baker | G | 6-0 | Fr. | Alliance, Neb. | Alliance HS |
| 4 | Nick Cito | G | 5-10 | Jr. | Arvada, Colo. | Mullen HS |
| 5 | Carter Kent | G | 6-2 | Jr. | Crete, Neb. | Crete HS |
| 10 | Justin Wiersema | G | 6-3 | Jr. | Loveland, Colo. | Thompson Valley HS |
| 11 | Gage Smith | F | 6-6 | Jr. | Elizabeth, Colo. | Elizabeth HS |
| 12 | Noah Schutte | F | 6-4 | Fr. | Laurel, Neb. | Laurel-Concord-Coleridge HS |
| 14 | AJ Watson | G | 5-8 | So. | Kansas City, Kan. | Bonner Springs HS |
| 20 | Tanner Wubbels | F | 6-7 | Jr. | Waverly, Neb. | Waverly HS |
| 21 | Klay Uher | F | 6-5 | Jr. | Crete, Neb. | Crete HS |
| 30 | Garrett Seagren | G | 6-2 | So. | Oakland, Neb. | Oakland-Craig HS / Chaminade |
| 32 | Ryan Holt | F | 6-5 | Sr. | Highlands Ranch, Colo. | ThunderRidge HS |
| 41 | Tristan Smith | F | 6-5 | Fr. | Elizabeth, Colo. | Elizabeth HS |
| 44 | Skyler Woita | F | 6-7 | So. | Wahoo, Neb. | Bishop Neumann HS / St. Gregory |
| 50 | Bradley Bennett | G | 6-1 | Fr. | Elkhorn, Neb. | Mount Michael Benedictine HS |
| 55 | Kelly Vyhnalek | F | 6-7 | So. | Seward, Neb. | Seward HS |
| No. | Junior Varsity Roster | Pos. | Ht. | Year | Hometown | Previous School |
| 2 | Matthew Weismann | G | 5-11 | Fr. | Gibbon, Neb. | Gibbon HS |
| 3 | Joel Baker | G | 6-0 | Fr. | Alliance, Neb. | Alliance HS |
| 4 | Corey Krueger | G | 6-1 | Fr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Southeast HS |
| 5 | Trey Scheef | G | 6-1 | Fr. | Wahoo, Neb. | Wahoo HS |
| 10 | Tice Jenkins | G | 6-2 | Fr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Lutheran HS |
| 11 | Riley Hoetfelker | G | 6-2 | Fr. | Hooper, Neb. | Logan View HS |
| 12 | Brayson Mueller | F | 6-5 | Fr. | Firth, Neb. | Norris HS |
| 14 | Jase Bessire | G | 6-1 | Fr. | Greeley, Colo. | Highland HS |
| 20 | Bradley Bennett | G | 6-1 | Fr. | Elkhorn, Neb. | Mount Michael Benedictine HS |
| 21 | Tony Tubrick V | F | 6-9 | Fr. | Omaha, Neb. | Creighton Prep HS |
| 30 | Joshua Puelz | F | 6-4 | Fr. | Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Lutheran HS |
| 44 | Bradyn Whittington | F | 6-8 | Fr. | Wilber, Neb. | Wilber-Clatonia HS |
| 50 | Casey Stegeman | F | 6-9 | Fr. | Arlington, S.D. | Arlington HS |
STAFF
Ben Limback, Head Coach (9th Year)
Ryan Tegtmeier, Assistant Coach
Brevin Sloup, Graduate Assistant Coach
Managers: Carson Richters, Haden Richters and Braedon Thompson
Season Preview: 2021-22 Concordia Men's Basketball
Oct. 14, 2021
2020-21 Record: 17-9 overall, 14-6 GPAC (T-3rd)
Head Coach: Ben Limback (at CUNE: 136-106, eight years; career: 251-264, 17 years)
Returning Starters: F Ryan Holt; G Carter Kent; G Sam Scarpelli; F Gage Smith; G Justin Wiersema.
Other Key Returners: F Noah Schutte; G AJ Watson; F Klay Uher.
Key Newcomers: G Brad Bennett; G Garrett Seagren; F Tristan Smith; F Skyler Woita.
Key Losses: F Cory Davila; G Grant Wragge.
2020-21 GPAC All-Conference: Justin Wiersema (First Team); Carter Kent (Second Team); Gage Smith (Second Team).
Outlook
The top seven scorers from last season return to form the nucleus of a roster that just might be the most talented and seasoned for the Concordia Men’s Basketball program since the 2004-05 season that resulted in a national championship game appearance. The national buzz seems to be lacking, but there’s a quiet confidence within the locker room. Any team that can roll out Carter Kent, Gage Smith and Justin Wiersema has the potential to be special.
Head Coach Ben Limback doesn’t seem to mind if his team floats just a bit under the radar in the preseason – but it really shouldn’t. Last season, the Bulldogs swept the regular season series from Northwestern (GPAC tournament champion) and came within an eyelash of doing the same to Jamestown (NAIA national quarterfinalist).
Said Limback, “We know that we have some good things in place. I think the league will be very competitive as usual. There are other teams that return guys from last year too. We might be under the radar and I’m okay with that. We talked at practice about how every team in America wants to make nationals and they feel like they can. It’s about the sweat and the hard work that you put in on a daily basis. This team gets that. They’re not going to take anything for granted.”
The program really turned the corner down the stretch of the 2019-20 season when it went on a seven-game winning streak, captured the GPAC postseason championship and earned a bid to the national tournament. Had the national tournament field remained at 64 last season (as originally planned), Concordia might be talking about back-to-back appearances on the national stage. All last season’s abbreviated postseason did was make this team anticipate 2021-22 even more.
Not only do all three All-GPAC honorees from last season return, starters Ryan Holt and Sam Scarpelli made the decision to take advantage of their extra “COVID” year. Yes, all five starters are back. Foremost among them is Wiersema, who rose to the level of First Team All-GPAC last winter. The 6-foot-3 guard from Loveland, Colo., can do it all. Last season he averaged 16.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals while shooting an impressive 55.6 percent from the floor.
Wiersema entered the program in the fall of 2018 along with the likes of Kent, Smith and Klay Uher. Said Wiersema, “We’ve been together throughout the whole four years. We’re all really great friends. We all spent two years in the dorms together and we see each other every day. It’s a tight bond. We’re almost brothers. I want to see everyone succeed – everyone wants to see everyone succeed. It’s awesome to see the improvement our team has made from player to player.”
Kent has proven he can fill it up. His 1,145 career points and 180 career treys are most of anyone on the active roster. He’s been a starter and a dependable performer from day one. Meanwhile, Smith blossomed last season while becoming one of the top rebounders in the GPAC. At 6-foot-6, Smith’s ability to score inside and out makes him a difficult matchup. Scarpelli started all 26 games last season at point guard and the muscular Holt contributes in many areas.
Limback isn’t guaranteeing that the starting lineup will be exactly the same as last season. Uher and AJ Watson have the most experience among the returning reserves. Limback raved about the progress of Watson, a 5-foot-8 guard who can score, pass, handle the ball and play defense. He averaged 5.0 points per game last season while Uher contributed 4.4 points. In the post, Noah Schutte has the ability to make a significant jump in his second year in the program. Schutte amassed more than 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his high school career.
“It’s a true blessing to have your most talented players also be your guys that are the hardest working,” Limback said. “They have a hunger each day to get better and that sets the tone. They come in and they know we didn’t do what we wanted to do last year. There’s something to prove. Each one has individual goals, but they know ultimately, they want to help our team achieve success that maybe we’ve never had before. Those three (Kent, Smith and Wiersema) are special and so is the entire class. We have eight seniors, including Sam and Ryan. It’s a special group.”
The depth does not stop there. Limback will have the option of going deeper into the bench than he has in years’ past. Watch out for transfers Garrett Seagren (Chaminade University) and Skyler Woita (St. Gregory). In addition, Gage Smith’s younger brother Tristan brings with him the right amount of skill and athleticism to compete for immediate playing time. Additional returners such as Nick Cito and Tanner Wubbels possess varsity playing experience.
It would be reasonable to expect that the Bulldogs will again be a perimeter-oriented offensive team. Last season, Concordia outnumbered its opponents in 3-point field goals, 276-204, and ranked second in the GPAC in 3-point field goals per game. Three-point marksmanship and strong team chemistry should lead to plenty of wins this winter.
Said Wiersma, “The five starters who are coming back have a lot of chemistry together. We always play together. Everyone knows where they need to be at all times. Everyone knows their role. I feel like when someone new comes in they know what to do too.”
The Bulldogs were especially dominant inside Friedrich Arena last season, going 9-1 in GPAC home games. Eight of those nine wins were decided by double digits. The only defeat came at the hands of Morningside. It could be jokingly said that new assistant coach and former Morningside standout Ryan Tegtmeier was brought in to help solve the Mustangs. Tegtmeier replaced Lance Korell as the lead assistant.
In 2021-22, Concordia Men’s Basketball will be no joke. The Bulldogs are rallying around a theme of “All In.” Limback has scheduled appropriately with a challenging nonconference run as part of a back-to-normal 30-game regular season schedule. There’s a trip to Daytona Beach, a Concordia Invitational Tournament at home and a whole lot more to look forward to.
“Our team as a whole shoots more threes than most other teams so that extra time put in away from practice has been an emphasis with our guys,” Limback said. “Defensively, we aren’t going to have a 6-10 rim protector so we have to get better at keeping the ball in front and rotating to prevent easy baskets. This should be a very fast and hard-working team. Offensively, we need to share the ball and understand how to make the simple plays. This team is pretty fun to watch and coach.”
There’s a feeling that Concordia “left some meat on the bone” last season. The Bulldogs do not want to let that happen this winter. Says Wiersema, “I feel like a lot of things could have went differently (last year). My sophomore year, going to the GPAC championship and playing in that atmosphere was unbeatable. Going to the national tournament was even more insane. I know for a fact everyone wants to get back there. We’ve all been in that atmosphere and want to get back just as much.”
The 2021-22 season will open at the Hastings Classic (Oct. 29-30) with matchups against Friends University (Kan.) and Presentation College (S.D.). Concordia will make its first home appearance when it hosts the Cattle Classic on Nov. 5-6.
Limback's Bulldogs pegged third in conference preseason poll
Oct. 20, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – The expectations are high for Concordia University Men’s Basketball entering the 2021-22 season. The Bulldogs slotted in at No. 3 in the 2021-22 GPAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll released on Wednesday (Oct. 20). Concordia earned 79 points in the poll while being placed behind Morningside and Jamestown. The preseason NAIA National Coaches’ poll is scheduled to be unveiled next Wednesday (Oct. 27).
Head Coach Ben Limback’s program tied for third in the GPAC last season while equaling a program record for conference wins in a single season (14). The Bulldogs return all five starters (and their top seven scorers) from last season, including All-GPAC honorees in Carter Kent, Gage Smith and Justin Wiersema. The latter rose to first team all-conference status while becoming one of the top backcourt players in the GPAC. Considering the talent and depth, Concordia has the capability to reach the national tournament for the second time in three seasons.
Among the highlights last season, the Bulldogs went 9-1 in GPAC home games with eight of those wins coming by double-digit margins. They swept the regular season series from GPAC tournament champion Northwestern and came within an eyelash of doing the same to Jamestown, which advanced to the NAIA national quarterfinals. Over the past two seasons, Concordia has gone a combined 41-19 overall and celebrated a GPAC tournament title in 2020.
For a detailed season preview, click HERE.
2021-22 GPAC Preseason Poll
1. Morningside – 96 (6)
2. Jamestown – 95 (5)
3. Concordia – 79
4. Northwestern – 74
5. Dakota Wesleyan – 66
6. Briar Cliff – 54
7. Dordt – 44
8. Midland – 33
9. Doane – 28
10. Mount Marty – 23
11. Hastings – 13
Season to tip off at Hastings Classic
Oct. 28, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – The wait for Concordia University Men’s Basketball is just about over. The 2021-22 season will tip off this weekend at the Hastings College C3 Tip-Off Classic. The Bulldogs are readying to take on Friends University (Kan.) on Friday and then Presentation College (S.D.) on Saturday. Both matchups will be staged inside Lynn Farrell Arena on the Hastings campus. Head Coach Ben Limback’s program is coming off a 17-9 overall mark in 2020-21.
Hastings C3 Tip-Off Classic
Friday, Oct. 29 vs. Friends (0-0), 3 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats
Saturday, Oct. 30 vs. Presentation (1-3), 2 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats
Expectations are high for Concordia with the program returning its top seven scorers from last season. That group includes 2020-21 All-GPAC honorees in Justin Wiersema (first team), Carter Kent (second team) and Gage Smith (second team). Those three standouts started last season alongside current ‘super seniors’ in Ryan Holt and Sam Scarpelli. Foremost among the key returning reserves are Klay Uher and AJ Watson. Combining that group with the newcomers should make for the deepest team the Bulldogs have had in Limback’s tenure, which began with the 2013-14 season.
Naturally, Concordia has been picked by league coaches to finish near the top of the league standings. The Bulldogs landed at No. 3 in the GPAC poll, behind 2021 national qualifying teams in Morningside and Jamestown. Limback’s squad also received votes in the NAIA preseason coaches’ poll unveiled on Wednesday. A strong start at the Hastings Classic could help spring-board the program into the NAIA top 25 for the first time since the 2010-11 season. This will mark the third season in a row that has begun at the Hastings Classic.
Friends appeared at No. 7 in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference preseason coaches’ poll after posting a record of 8-16 overall last season. There will be plenty of unknowns regarding the Falcons, who have a new head coach in Austin McBeth, who played at Iowa State University and previously served as the top assistant coach at NCAA Division II Truman State University. The top returner for McBeth’s squad is senior guard Davonte Pack, who was an honorable mention All-American last season while averaging 17.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
Presentation has already played four times this season and has dropped three games to GPAC opponents: Doane, Midland and Jamestown. Denzel McDuffey has been the team’s leading scorer with an average of 15.0 points per game. The Saints are hoping to rebound from a 4-23 campaign in 2020-21. They also have a new head coach with Stan Holt taking over the reins. Holt has guided teams to three national tournament appearances in his previous coaching stops.
Following the Hastings Classic, the Bulldogs will look forward to hosting the 22nd annual Cattle Classic next weekend (Nov. 5-6). As part of the event, Concordia will take on Waldorf University (Iowa) and No. 18 Benedictine College (Kan.). More information about the Cattle Classic can be found by clicking HERE.
Dominant second half keys season opening blowout win
Oct. 29, 2021
HASTINGS, Neb. – A close contest for much of the first half morphed into a blowout victory as the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team opened the 2021-22 season at the Hastings Classic on Friday (Oct. 29). Five Bulldogs reached double figures in what amounted to an 87-57 victory over Friends University, a member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. Concordia feasted on 24 Falcon turnovers while point guard AJ Watson notched his first career double-double.
Head Coach Ben Limback returns a seasoned and talented roster that led to the Bulldogs receiving votes in the preseason. Friday’s second half was something this team can build upon.
“I felt like our offense in the first half was solid, we just didn’t finish every play and shoot well,” Limback said. “Second half, I really challenged our guys. I though our bigs, Klay (Uher) and Ryan (Holt), did a great job on ball screen coverage. Friends had really good guards coming in here with experience. I think we held them in check, second half especially. I was really proud of our defensive effort in the second half.”
The season opener flipped late in the opening half when Watson drilled a trey just before the buzzer. That shot triggered a 14-0 run that turned a two-point advantage into a 51-35 lead. The contest became a rout as the Bulldogs turned up the defensive intensity. The Falcons failed to score a point during the first five minutes of the second half while Concordia did a number on returning Honorable Mention All-American Davonte Pack (two points on 1-for-5 shooting).
Even without a projected starter and a key reserve, the Bulldogs flashed their depth. Returning First Team All-GPAC honoree Justin Wiersema led the way with 19 points. In the scoring column, he was followed by teammates in Watson (16), Carter Kent (15), Klay Uher (13) and Noah Schutte (10). Defensively, the backcourt was active as Kent, Watson and Wiersema combined for seven steals.
Said Watson of the team’s depth, “It’s going to be scary. We’re going to have a scary team the whole season. We’ve got 10 players that you can pull out of a hat and start five.”
Concordia outscored Friends, 47-22, in the second half while building a lead as large as 34 points. Not only did the Falcons commit 24 turnovers, they shot only 37 percent (20-for-54) for the game. It took 15 shots for their leading scorer, Ian Konek, to reach a team high 10 points. The tenacious Bulldog D also swatted eight shots (three rejections by freshman Tristan Smith).
With the team’s top seven scorers back from last season, Concordia expects to be in the mix at the top of the GPAC standings. Wiersema went 8-for-14 from the floor and added four assists, two steals and two blocks in the type of all-around effort Bulldog fans have become accustomed to. Wiersema was one of six Concordia players to knock down a triple (10-for-30 as a team from 3-point range).
Said Limback, “I told the guys I have a hard job this year with the rotations and finding the right combinations, but I’d much rather have that problem than not having enough horses. I thought everyone that stepped out there today did some really good things.”
The Falcons went 8-16 last season and are in the process of building up the program under a first-year head coach in Austin McBeth. Concordia also defeated Friends at last season’s Hastings Classic with the final score being 102-82.
The Bulldogs will return to the Hastings Classic on Saturday for a 2 p.m. CT tipoff with Presentation College (S.D.). Entering the event, the Saints (1-3) had been beaten by three GPAC opponents already during the 2021-22 season.
Bulldogs polish off 2-0 start with rout of Presentation
Oct. 30, 2021
HASTINGS, Neb. – The offense was alive and well in Concordia University Men’s Basketball route of Presentation College on Saturday (Oct. 30) afternoon, scoring nearly 100 points. There were five bulldogs with double figures in the scoring column in the 96-72 win. Concordia shot 50 percent from the field and a solid 38.1 percent from beyond the arc.
Head Coach Ben Limback team had an impressive opening weekend at the Hastings Classic while starting the season off 2-0. The Bulldogs outscored their opponents 183-129 at the tournament. Limback was happy with the hot start from his squad on Saturday.
“I thought our guys were ready to play,” Limback said. “I think they understand the importance of not letting up. This Presentation team hung with Jamestown and played Hastings tough last night. They have talent and are well-coached. We sent a message right away. Our starting group got some easy baskets in transition. The first half was a really good start.”
Ryan Holt was big for Concordia early, shooting a perfect 4-4 from the field and scoring 12 points. Carter Kent heated up after halftime and finished the game with 21 points and seven assists. Justin Wiersema was a rebound shy of a double-double, collecting 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Klay Uher did his part tossing in 17 points and snagging six rebounds. AJ Watson was the fifth Concordia player in double figures with 11 points and five assists. The Bulldogs also won the turnover battle, only turning the ball over nine times compared to the Saints’ 17. The Bulldogs Bench was a key part in the victory as well, nine players total put points on the board in the game.
Said Limback, "It’s an unselfish team. We have guys off the bench who pick up where the starters leave off with moving the ball and sharing it. That makes it a lot harder to defend. When we space the floor with a lot of guys who can score, we’re difficult to guard.”
For Presentation (1-5), its leading scorer was Denzel McDuffey with 15 points. McDuffey also captured the double-double with 10 rebounds in the contest. Justin Steed was the only other Saint in double figures with 14 points. Presentation shot 50 percent (8-for-16) from the 3-point arc. The Saints have gone 0-5 against GPAC opponents in the early going.
Concordia will be at home for the first time this season next weekend (Nov. 5-6) when it stages the 22nd annual Cattle Classic inside Friedrich Arena. The Bulldogs will welcome nonconference opponent Waldorf University (Iowa) to town on day one for an 8 p.m. CT tipoff. The two schools last met in 2019 where Concordia won narrowly.
Previewing the 22nd annual men's Cattle Classic
Oct. 31, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – The 21st annual Cattle Classic is set to tip off on Friday afternoon inside Walz Arena. The basketball classic features a total of four men’s games and four women’s games over the course of the two-day extravaganza. The event, co-sponsored by Concordia and Cattle Bank & Trust, raises money and food for the Blue Valley Community Action's Food Pantry. Pac N Save of Seward will match all canned food donations.
Fans are encouraged to bring canned goods in exchange for admission. Ten canned items will get an adult a weekend pass. Complete admission information for the Cattle Classic can be found HERE. Tickets will not be sold online for this particular event.
Live webcasts/stats: Concordia Sports Network
2021 CATTLE CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Friday, Nov. 5
- Women: Taylor University (Ind.) vs. Dakota State University (S.D.), 1 p.m.
- Men: Hastings College vs. Benedictine College (Kan.), 3 p.m.
- Women: Concordia vs. Sterling College (Kan.), 6 p.m.
- Men: Concordia vs. Waldorf University (Iowa), 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 6
- Women: Taylor University (Ind.) vs. Sterling College (Kan.), 10 a.m.
- Men: Hastings College vs. Waldorf University (Iowa), 12 p.m.
- Women: Concordia vs. Dakota State University (S.D.), 2 p.m.
- Men: Concordia vs. Benedictine College (Kan.), 4 p.m.
The Men’s Field
Concordia University
Head Coach: Ben Limback, 9th season
2021-22 Record: 2-0
2020-21 Record: 17-9
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference
Location: Seward, Nebraska
Top Player: Based upon last season’s accolades, Justin Wiersema (First Team All-GPAC) leads the way for the Bulldogs. Wiersema took off in 2020-21 when he averaged 16.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals while shooting 55.6 percent from the floor. The native of Loveland, Colo., contributes positively in all aspects of the game. Carter Kent and Gage Smith were named Second Team All-GPAC last season.
Overview: Expectations are high as Concordia returned its top seven scorers from last season’s squad that tied for third in the GPAC. The Bulldogs got the 2021-22 season started at the Hastings Classic with a pair of blowout wins that came over Friends University (Kan.), 87-57, and Presentation College (S.D.), 96-72. As a showcase of the team’s depth, five Concordia players reached double figures in both games. The Bulldogs have shaken things up a bit in the starting lineup by going to AJ Watson as the primary point guard.
Benedictine College
Head Coach: Ryan Moody, 11th season
2021-22 Record: 2-0
2020-21 Record: 21-8 (national tournament qualifier)
Conference: Heart of America Athletic Conference
Location: Atchison, Kansas
Top Player: An NAIA Second Team All-American guard last season, Jaiden Bristol is back for a fifth season for a Ravens program coming off a national tournament appearance. Bristol averaged 12.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game last season. Bristol has piled up more than 1,200 points in his career at Benedictine.
Overview: Head Coach Ryan Moody has an experienced squad that returns all 16 players who appeared in a varsity game last season. That group of returners includes five players who averaged in double figures in scoring. Senior guard Matt Austin enjoyed a 26-point performance in Saturday’s 90-76 win over Briar Cliff. Benedictine was picked by league coaches to finish second in the Heart of America Athletic Conference preseason poll. Concordia edged the Ravens, 66-65, at the 2019 Cattle Classic.
Hastings College
Head Coach: Bill Gavers, 9th season
2021-22 Record: 3-0
2020-21 Record: 6-19
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference
Location: Hastings, Nebraska
Top Player: Junior guard Karson Gansebom picked up Honorable Mention All-GPAC accolades last season when he averaged 16.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Gansebom is off to a strong start this season in averaging 20.0 points per game while shooting 55.3 percent from the floor. He poured in 31 points in the season opening win over Sterling College (Kan.).
Overview: The Broncos are hoping to bounce back from a 6-19 campaign in 2020-21. Though picked at the bottom of the GPAC preseason poll, Head Coach Bill Gavers’ squad has opened this season with three-straight wins, defeating Sterling, Presentation and Friends. Gansebom and Deshawn Walker are the headlining returners for Hastings, which struggled mightily on the defensive end last season. It allowed opponents to average 87.2 points and shoot 48.1 percent from the floor.
Waldorf University
Head Coach: Nigel Jenkins, 11th season
2021-22 Record: 0-1
2020-21 Record: 5-17
Conference: North Star Athletic Association
Location: Forest City, Iowa
Top Player: Senior guard Quincy Minor Jr. was named first team all-conference in the North Star Athletic Association last season. Minor Jr. averaged 19.4 points and shot 48.5 percent from the field in 2020-21. Minor Jr. put up a team high 17 points in the team’s 73-62 season opening loss to Iowa Wesleyan University.
Overview: The Warriors struggled to a 5-17 record last season despite the scoring ability of Minor Jr. Waldorf was picked to place seventh out of eight teams in the North Star’s preseason coaches’ poll. Head Coach Nigel Jenkins is the winningest coach in program history with 121 career victories. The Warriors are aiming for their first winning season since going 16-14 in 2015-16.
Kent, Wiersema guide Concordia past Waldorf at Cattle Classic
Nov. 5, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Visiting Waldorf University (Iowa) gave its best effort in attempting to spoil the opening night of the 22nd annual Cattle Classic, but the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team had too much firepower. Stars Carter Kent and Justin Wiersema both reached the 20-point mark in powering the Bulldogs to an 89-72 win inside Friedrich Arena on Friday (Nov. 5) night. Concordia shot 51.5 percent from the floor in the second half while responding to the Warrior comeback bid.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad has jumped out to a 3-0 record having also played last weekend at the Hastings Classic. One more game remains on this weekend’s slate.
“Give Waldorf and their staff a lot of credit. They came out, fought hard and chipped away,” Limback said. “I thought we took some quick shots in the second half. We didn’t get in a good rhythm and didn’t talk well enough in transition. We want to guard, we can guard. We just have to bring that mentality over 40 minutes. I loved how we answered at the end with some big plays.”
The Bulldogs saw a first-half lead as large as 18 points get whittled all the way down to three (64-61) with just under 8:30 left to play. Four minutes later, Waldorf was still hovering within six (75-69) before Concordia finally slammed the door. The Bulldogs outscored the Warriors, 14-3, over the final four minutes with the help of a trey from Wiersema and a couple of layups from Garrett Seagren.
Kent finished his night with a stat-stuffing 22 points (7-for-14 from the floor), six assists, five rebounds and three steals. Wiersema was similarly effective in notching 20 points, five rebounds and three steals. Wiersema got the crowd roaring in the first half with a steal and a two-hand slam. While making his return to the lineup, Gage Smith posted 11 points and nine rebounds. Off the bench, AJ Watson canned 14 points on the strength of four treys. Ryan Holt’s day included nine points, six assists and six rebounds. Seagren (transfer from Chaminade University) chipped in with seven points on 3-for-4 shooting.
Said Limback, “It was nice to see Gage back and I thought Garrett played really well defensively. He’s a guy who brings a lot of versatility. It was good to get them in and get some rhythm back. It’s an adjustment after two games without them. Now we’re just trying to figure out some of those rotations, but I thought both guys did some good things.”
For Waldorf (0-2), Lorenzo Smith did his best to keep his side in the game. He racked up 23 points and went 9-for-14 from the floor. Bryanth Farr totaled 16 points. The Warriors shot an impressive 63.0 percent (17-for-27) from the field in the second half. Located in Forest City, Iowa, Waldorf competes as a member of the NAIA’s North Star Athletic Association.
Concordia shot 49.3 percent (33-for-67) for the game. It made 11-of-26 (.423) tries from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs had a slight edge in rebounding, 38-34, and took care of the ball (just six turnovers).
Based on the rankings, Concordia will face its stiffest challenge so far this season when it hosts No. 18 Benedictine College (Kan.) at 4 p.m. CT on Saturday. It will mark the eighth and final game of the Cattle Classic, which raises canned food items and cash donations for the Blue Valley Community Action’s Food Pantry. The event is sponsored by Cattle Bank & Trust of Seward.
Concordia out-grits No. 18 Benedictine in early season's toughest test
Nov. 6, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – In an early season bout between two undefeated teams, the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team managed to fend off 18th-ranked Benedictine College (Kan.), ending the Cattle Classic with a win. Despite shooting struggles for the Bulldogs, their defense held strong and they gritted out a 68-53 victory on Saturday (Nov. 6). Two Concordia players, Carter Kent and Justin Wiersema, were both named to the Men's All-Cattle Classic team after the matchup.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad has been hot early, as it improves to 4-0 on the young season. Limback was happy with the fast start that the Bulldogs jumped out to.
Said Limback, "I thought the first half set the tone and we were ready. The guys brought a lot of energy, I thought our bench was outstanding. I think that's really what it stems from, this team chose the theme of ‘All In’ and it was certainly very evident to start this game. I was really proud of the way we came out."
Wiersema led the Bulldogs in scoring with 18 points. He also added 12 rebounds, giving him the double-double. AJ Watson tossed in 11 points and a pair of assists. Noah Shutte finished with 10 points for Concordia. Carter Kent had eight points and six assists in the contest. The Bulldogs went cold from beyond the arc (3-for-26), but they made up for it by scoring 42 of their 68 points in the paint.
Despite some of the second half shooting struggles, Concordia maintained a double-digit lead for the entire second half.
"It felt like a good old-fashioned rock fight in the second half where it was just back in fourth and where neither team could really ball in the hole,” Limback said. “I thought there was some fatigue their and both teams playing hard but just couldn't get shots to fall. The second half was ugly, but this is a team that can defend and score. When you put both together it's special, but certainly if you can win both ways that's a sign of a great team.”
Benedictine finished with two players in double figures. Jaiden Bristol ended the contest with 16 points and five assists. Eric Krus tossed in 18 himself and led the Ravens in scoring. Benedictine fell to 4-1 with the loss. The Raves earned an 82-62 win over Hastings on Friday.
Concordia will be at home again on Tuesday, welcoming Peru State College to Friedrich Arena. The Bobcats are 1-2 so far on the season. The Bulldogs fell to Peru State in last year's meeting in late December. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT.
2021 All-Cattle Classic Team
TJ Babikir, Hastings
Jaiden Bristol, Benedictine
Carter Kent, Concordia
Quincy Minor Jr., Waldorf
Justin Wiersema, Concordia
Peru State, GPAC opener on tap for 4-0 Bulldogs
Nov. 8, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Fresh off a successful Cattle Classic weekend, the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team is looking to continue a strong start to the 2021-22 season with a pair of games this week. The Bulldogs will host Peru State College on Tuesday before opening conference play at Briar Cliff on Saturday. Head Coach Ben Limback’s team is off to a 4-0 start with a win over No. 18 Benedictine College (Kan.).
This Week
Tuesday, Nov. 9 vs. Peru State College (1-3), 7 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats | 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Nov. 13 at Briar Cliff (2-2, 0-0 GPAC), 6:45 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats
By the numbers
· Concordia has started a season 4-0 for the fourth time during Limback’s tenure (which began with the 2013-14 season). The longest unbeaten run to begin a campaign under Limback occurred in 2019-20 when the Bulldogs opened at 5-0 in the process of qualifying for that national tournament in March 2020. In the early going of this season, Concordia is one of three GPAC squads that has yet to drop a game. The other undefeated teams are Jamestown (5-0) and Northwestern (4-0). Another strong week for the Bulldogs could give them a shot at cracking the NAIA top 25 when the next poll is released on Nov. 15.
· Through the first four games, Concordia has earned wins over Friends University (Kan.), Presentation College (S.D.), Waldorf University (Iowa) and Benedictine. The Bulldogs are outscoring their opponents, on average, 85.0 to 63.5, and own significant advantages in field goal percentage, .472 to .397, and in turnover margin (plus-27). The Bulldogs have won each of their first four contests by margins of 15 points or greater. They will expect to improve upon their current 3-point percentage of .311.
· The stars have played like stars through four games. Carter Kent and Justin Wiersema represented Concordia on the All-Cattle Classic team. Wiersema hasn’t missed a beat since the end of last season and is averaging 18.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 55.1 percent from the floor. Meanwhile, Kent is averaging 16.5 points, 5.3 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.75 steals per game while shooting 45.1 percent from the floor. In their careers, Kent has accumulated 1,211 points and Wiersema has pushed his point total to 969. Kent now ranks 20th in program history in career scoring.
· Seven different players have started at least once this season for Concordia. The constants have been Kent, Wiersema and Ryan Holt while AJ Watson has started three times. Off the bench, Noah Schutte has gotten consistent minutes and has produced 7.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Watson has been given a more significant role and has averaged 13.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game from the point guard spot. Adding to the team’s depth, Gage Smith and Garrett Seagren returned over the weekend. Smith earned Second Team All-GPAC accolades last season.
The opponents
Peru State has been a familiar nonconference opponent recently with the Bulldogs and Bobcats having gone head-to-head in each of the previous three seasons. Concordia has won two of those three matchups. However, Peru State dealt the Bulldogs a 70-62 defeat last season. So far in 2021-22, the Bobcats have played two GPAC foes and have dropped both games, losing 83-56 at Morningside and 84-75 to Northwestern. Head Coach Bob Ludwig’s squad is looking to bounce back from a 9-15 record last season. Peru State qualified for the national tournament as recently as 2019. The team’s leading scorer this season has been Jibril Harris with an average of 11.0 points per game.
Briar Cliff has gone 2-2 with wins over Bellevue University and Indiana University East. It has dropped games at the hands of Benedictine and Indiana Wesleyan University. Head Coach Mark Svagera’s program is also looking for a return to the national tournament after missing out in each of the past two seasons. Senior forward Kyle Boerhave paces the team in scoring at 16.3 points per game (70.3 percent from the floor). The Bulldogs and Chargers split last season’s two meetings with the home team winning in both instances.
Next week
Conference play will continue next week as Concordia hosts Midland on Nov. 17 before heading to Dordt on Nov. 20.
Bulldogs fall in clunker to open GPAC play
Nov. 13, 2021
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The GPAC opener for the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team is one it will want to quickly flush. The Bulldogs went just 1-for-21 from 3-point range and struggled to the tune of a 65-48 loss at Briar Cliff on Saturday (Nov. 13). As a contrast, the Chargers made eight treys in their home gym, the Newman Flanagan Center.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad has tasted defeat for the first time this season and sits at 5-1 overall. The performance fell well below the team’s high standards. Said Limback, “We struggled mightily offensively, had uncharacteristic turnovers and didn’t finish plays. Noah (Schutte) was a bright spot.”
A tight 20-18 game through the first 13 minutes and change gave way to a double-digit halftime lead for Briar Cliff. For the entirety of the second half, the Chargers maintained an advantage of at least eight points in a surprisingly comfortable victory. It’s a challenge to dig out of such a hole when the shots aren’t falling. Briar Cliff shot 45.6 percent (26-for-57) from the floor while Concordia shot 36.7 percent (18-for-49) overall.
Only Schutte (16) and AJ Watson (11) reached double figures in scoring for the Bulldogs. A native of Laurel, Neb., Schutte has made big strides in his second season in the program. He made 6-of-7 shots from the free throw line on Saturday and topped Concordia with seven rebounds. In a rare occurrence, both Carter Kent (eight) and Justin Wiersema (four) were held to single digit scoring outputs. Gage Smith posted a line of five points, six rebounds and three steals.
The star for the Chargers (3-3, 1-0 GPAC) was Jaden Kleinhesselink, who drilled 4-of-5 attempts from long range and led all scorers with 21 points. Kyle Boerhave chipped in with 13 points, Quinn Vesey totaled 11 points and Quiten Vasa (nine points, nine rebounds) fell just shy of a double-double. Not only did Briar Cliff shoot the ball much better than Concordia, it also owned a plus-five turnover margin (17-12).
The 48 points scored by the Bulldogs were easily a season low. Concordia had just come off a 91-90 nail-biter of a win over Peru State College. As for the Chargers, it’s been an up-and-down run outside of league play. Briar Cliff has collected wins over Bellevue University and Indiana University East.
The Bulldogs will have to wait until Wednesday to put this loss behind them. On that day, Concordia will host Midland (5-1, 0-0 GPAC) at 7:45 p.m. CT. The Bulldogs have won each of the last five meetings with the Warriors.
GPAC play to heat up in matchups with Midland, Dordt
Nov. 15, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – After a rough start to conference play, the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team will seek to bounce back this week as it looks forward to matchups at home with Midland and on the road at Dordt. Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad had improved to 5-0 with a dramatic win over Peru State College prior to suffering a 65-48 defeat at Briar Cliff in the GPAC opener. The Bulldogs remained ranked third in the official GPAC ratings released on Monday on the NAIA website.
This Week
Wednesday, Nov. 17 vs. Midland (5-1, 0-0 GPAC), 7:45 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats | 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Nov. 20 at Dordt (6-1, 0-0 GPAC), 5:45 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | 104.9 Max Country
By the numbers
· The 5-0 start equaled the best five-game stretch to begin a season during Limback’s tenure that began with the 2013-14 season. Through six games, Concordia is averaging 79.8 points per game while shooting 47.3 percent from the floor, 29.1 percent from 3-point range and 69.2 percent from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Bulldog opponents are averaging 68.2 points per game and shooting 43.3 percent from the field, 38.6 percent from the foul line and 63.9 percent from the free throw line. Concordia’s offensive numbers took a hit with a 1-for-21 effort from 3-point range in the loss at Briar Cliff.
· The victory over Peru State featured a comeback from eight points down in the second half (after the Bulldogs led by 12 points in the first half). It was a career day for fifth-year player Ryan Holt, who poured in 24 points on 10-for-14 shooting from the field. Holt emerged as the hero when he drained the game-winning trey in the final seconds of the 91-90 home win over the Bobcats. Four teammates joined Holt in double figures in scoring: Carter Kent (19), Gage Smith (18), Noah Schutte (13) and AJ Watson (10). Schutte followed it up with 16 points and seven rebounds at Briar Cliff.
· Justin Wiersema enters the week with a chance to add his name to the program’s list of 1,000-point scorers. His current total stands at 980 through 89 career collegiate games. Wiersema’s game took off last season when he averaged 16.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals per game and was named First Team All-GPAC. Among active players, Kent’s 1,238 points are the most. That total puts Kent 19th in program history, just behind current graduate assistant coach Brevin Sloup (1,246).
· Three GPAC conference games took place over the weekend with Briar Cliff, Doane and Morningside producing wins. Concordia entered this season believing it could contend for the GPAC regular season title after tying for third place in 2020-21. Last season’s team equaled a program record for GPAC wins in a single season with 14. A new set of NAIA national rankings will be released on Wednesday. Currently, No. 12 Morningside and No. 19 Jamestown are the lone GPAC teams ranked inside the NAIA top 25.
The opponents
Midland has started out 5-1 with the lone loss being a double overtime defeat at Grand View University (Iowa). The Warriors are averaging 85.2 points per game behind top scorers Laurence Merritt (16.0) and Bo Sandquist (15.7). Midland last reached the national tournament in 2017 but has finished below .500 in the GPAC in each season since then.
Dordt has won six in a row since falling in overtime to William Penn University (Iowa). The Defenders will get a stiff test on Wednesday with a trip to No. 12 Morningside. Three Defender players are averaging 14.0 or more points per game: Bryce Coppock (15.7), Cade Bleeker (14.1) and Jacob Vis (14.0). Brian Van Haaften’s program is coming off an 18-8 (13-7 GPAC) campaign last season.
Next week
The Bulldogs will welcome No. 19 Jamestown to Friedrich Arena on Nov. 23 for a 7:45 p.m. CT tipoff. Concordia will have the remainder of Thanksgiving week off from game action.
Star trio of Kent, Smith and Wiersema powers win over Midland
Nov. 17, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – A return to the home court brought a return to high level play for the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team on Wednesday (Nov. 17). The Bulldogs were back to operating efficiently, shooting 54.0 percent from the floor in the process of claiming an 80-63 win over Midland inside Friedrich Arena. The Bulldogs constructed a lead as large as 20 and absorbed an 11-1 second half run by the Warriors.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad shook off what occurred four days earlier at Briar Cliff and earned its first GPAC win of the season. Concordia boosted its record to 6-1 overall (1-1 GPAC).
“I thought our guys played really hard defensively tonight and limited some of their clean looks,” Limback said. “The whole team was hungry. We wanted to play well today. It helps to be at home. Gage (Smith) was really good tonight and I thought Sam Scarpelli did some nice things off the bench. Those three guys (Carter Kent, Justin Wiersema and Smith) had really good nights offensively and it’s good to see them get back in a rhythm.”
It would certainly appear that last week’s rough shooting performance at Briar Cliff was an outlier. After going 1-for-21 from 3-point range last time out, the Bulldogs heated up to 12-for-23 from distance on Wednesday. Concordia never allowed Midland to grab a lead at any point and had control all evening. The Warriors did have a flicker of hope when they cut a 19-point deficit (63-44) down to nine (64-55) with 7:47 left. Back-to-back treys from Wiersema and Smith restored order. Midland could not stop Smith down the stretch.
The Elizabeth, Colo., native led all players with 24 points on the strength of 9-for-12 shooting from the floor. Wiersema added 18 points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocks. He returned to the game after receiving a blow to the jaw. In addition, Kent chipped in 16 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals. Kent knocked home 11 points in the second half.
“We had a rough game on Saturday with Briar Cliff. You just have to forget about it and have a next-game mentality,” Smith said. “We came out and executed. We just trust each other. When we move the ball around the key, we’re hard to stop. Anyone of us can score.”
Concordia hopes this was the springboard to plenty more conference wins. Said Limback, “It’s a tough league. That team right there is going to win a lot of games. To come out here and defend home court is important. We want to keep that momentum going on Saturday.”
Midland (5-2, 0-1 GPAC) was held to 36.4 percent (20-for-55) shooting from the floor. Offensive output was tough to come by outside of Bo Sanquist (21 points) and Laurence Merritt (15 points). To make matters worse, the Warriors were outrebounded, 35-26.
Noah Schutte got his first career start and notched eight points on 3-for-5 shooting for the Bulldogs. Scarpelli went 2-for-2 from 3-point range off the bench and Tristan Smith contributed five points. Wiersema’s career point total now stands at 998.
Another conference road test is coming up on Saturday when the Bulldogs will be in Sioux Center, Iowa, to take on Dordt (6-2, 0-1 GPAC). The two sides split last two 2020-21 regular season meetings with the home team winning in both instances. The Defenders will be fresh off an 88-75 loss to No. 12 Morningside on Wednesday.
Schutte steps up, Concordia holds off Dordt on road
Nov. 20, 2021
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – If the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team is to reach the heights it seeks in 2021-22, it must find ways to persevere on the road. A sharp performance offensively and a career high outing from Noah Schutte were just enough for the Bulldogs to hold off Dordt, 84-82, in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Saturday (Nov. 20). Fittingly, it was Schutte who picked off an inbounds pass to seal the victory in a tension-filled final few seconds.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad failed to pass its first GPAC road test a week earlier, meaning Saturday's win at Dordt was an important step forward. Concordia has jumped out to a 7-1 overall record (2-1 GPAC).
“They’re a really good team. They wouldn’t go away,” Limback said of Dordt. “I felt like we were really good offensively tonight, and thankfully so because we didn’t guard consistently. Then Gage (Smith) gets in foul trouble and our depth inside is thin right now. I’m really proud though. Noah had a great game overall. Defensively, I thought AJ (Watson) did a nice job on their point guard. What a gutsy performance by both teams – and we were fortunate to win the game tonight.”
It’s rarely a picnic for any visiting team at De Witt Gymnasium. The Defenders roared back from a 10-point deficit with less than seven minutes remaining and had a look for a potential game-tying bucket in the closing 10 seconds. It was Schutte’s layup on a pretty feed from Watson with just over a minute left that provided enough cushion for the Bulldogs to eventually breathe a sigh of relief.
This was fun basketball featuring few turnovers (13 combined) for either side and a whole lot of shots that found the bottom of the net. Concordia shot 50 percent or better in both halves. Schutte is a rising star. Without two key posts (Ryan Holt and Klay Uher), Schutte came through with a career high 21 points to go along with eight rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot. Justin Wiersema also enjoyed a fine night in supplying 19 points, six rebounds and four assists. The Bulldogs shot 50.7 percent (34-for-67) from the floor and made 10-of-26 (.385) attempts from 3-point range.
Dordt (6-3, 0-2 GPAC) kept on coming. The Defenders were just as hot, shooting 50.8 percent (32-for-63) overall. Jacob Vis powered in 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds while Cade Bleeker (15 points and 11 rebounds) also recorded a double-double. Considering the lack of frontcourt depth, Concordia did well to only be outrebounded, 37-33.
Said Limback, “We knew it was going to be a physical game. We made some mistakes, but we played through it. I’m just so proud of the guys and how they weathered the storm. You have to find ways to get road wins. Tonight our offense won the game for us. Justin gets his 1,000th point – what a fun day.”
Entering the night, Wiersema needed just two points to become the program’s 33rd member of the 1,000-point club. That group includes teammate Carter Kent, who contributed 10 points on 4-for-11 shooting on Saturday. Meanwhile, Smith posted 16 points and five rebounds despite being limited to 19 minutes due to foul trouble. Watson added 10 points and four assists without a single turnover. Their collective offensive firepower had the Bulldogs in control for the majority of the night.
A major opportunity to make a splash awaits on Tuesday when Concordia will host No. 10 Jamestown (7-0, 1-0 GPAC) at 7:45 p.m. CT inside Friedrich Arena. The Jimmies went on to reach the NAIA national quarterfinals last season behind conference player of the year Mason Walters. The two sides split the two 2020-21 matchups with the home team holding serve in both cases.
Showdown with Jamestown, exhibition at Rockhurst make up Thanksgiving week
Nov. 21, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Following a fruitful first week of conference play, the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team has an opportunity to make a statement this week. The Bulldogs will host No. 10 Jamestown on Tuesday in a matchup with the highest-rated team in the GPAC. Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad will also make a trip to Kansas City this weekend to take on NCAA Division II Rockhurst University in an exhibition for Concordia. Last week, the Bulldogs knocked off Midland at home and held off Dordt on the road.
This Week
This Week
Tuesday, Nov. 23 vs. Jamestown (8-0, 2-0 GPAC), 7:45 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats | 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Nov. 27 at Rockhurst (1-4), 2 p.m. (Exhibition)
--Live Webcast | Live Stats
By the numbers
· Concordia bounced back nicely from what remains its lone loss of the season – a 65-48 clunker at Briar Cliff on Nov. 13. The Bulldogs shot better than 50 percent in both of last week’s outings, which included victories by scores of 80-63 over Midland and 84-82 at Dordt. Gage Smith led the way in the victory over Midland, powering in 24 points. Meanwhile, Justin Wiersema added 18 points, six rebounds and four assists and Carter Kent totaled 16 points and nine rebounds. In the win at Dordt, Concordia led virtually the entire game and then withstood a late push from the Defenders. Noah Schutte stepped up big with a career high 21 points to go along with eight rebounds and three steals. It was Schutte’s theft in the final seconds that sealed the win. Wiersema notched 19 points and moved past 1,000 for his career.
· Wiersema became the 33rd player in program history to reach the 1,000-point mark. His total currently rests at 1,017. The native of Loveland, Colo., joins teammate Carter Kent (1,264) as current Bulldogs with more than 1,000 career points. Last week, Kent moved up to 17th on the program’s all-time scoring list, rising above Bret Walter (1,248) and former teammate and current graduate assistant coach Brevin Sloup (1,246). Gage Smith ranks third among active Bulldogs with 611 career points. The program’s all-time leading scorer remains Jon Zeigler with 2,099 points accumulated from 2004-07.
· Concordia has become a mighty tough out when playing at home. The Bulldogs are 20-1 over their past 21 games played inside Friedrich Arena and currently own a seven-game home win streak. Many of the games played at home during the aforementioned 21-game stretch have not been competitive. Of the 15 home victories occurring since the start of the 2020-21 season, 13 have come by double-digit margins. The only team to win inside Friedrich Arena since late January of 2020 has been Morningside.
· With Ryan Holt and Klay Uher sidelined last week, Schutte was inserted into the starting lineup. The native of Laurel, Neb., is coming into his own in his second season inside the program. Last season Schutte saw action in 17 games and averaged 2.9 points per game. So far this season, Schutte is averaging 11.1 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 50.0 percent (34-for-68) from the floor. During an impressive high school career, Schutte totaled more than 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds and led Laurel-Concord-Coleridge High School to a Nebraska Class D1 state championship.
· A win over Jamestown is the type of quality victory Concordia needs to make a jump into the NAIA top 25. In the latest poll released on Nov. 17, the Bulldogs were again listed among others receiving votes. While Jamestown landed at No. 10, Morningside checked in at No. 22. In addition, Northwestern is also receiving votes.
The opponents
Jamestown was not considered the favorite in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll, but it just might be the favorite now thanks to an 8-0 start. Head Coach Danny Neville’s squad owns a win over Vanguard University (Calif.), a squad that was receiving votes at the time. The Jimmies entered this season with momentum having advanced to the national quarterfinals last season. Jamestown can’t be talked about without mentioning reigning GPAC Player of the Year Mason Walters, who is averaging 23.1 points and 11.9 rebounds this season. The Jimmies can also shoot from the outside. They are hitting on 40.7 percent of 3-point tries.
Saturday’s exhibition (for Concordia) will be held inside the Mason-Halpin Field House in Kansas City. Rockhurst competes as a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference in NCAA Division II. The Hawks are 1-4 so far this season and are coming off a 9-13 campaign in 2020-21. Jake Auer leads the team with an average of 14.6 points per game. Head Coach Drew Diener is in his seventh season leading the program.
Next week
GPAC play will resume on Dec. 1 as the Bulldogs play at No. 22 Morningside. Concordia will then host Northwestern on Dec. 4.
Wiersema honored as GPAC Player of the Week
Nov. 23, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – On the heels of leading the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team to a 2-0 week within the GPAC, star guard Justin Wiersema has been named the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Player of the Week, as announced on Tuesday (Nov. 23). This is the first men’s basketball award handed out during the 2021-22 season by the GPAC. Wiersema garnered First Team All-GPAC recognition last season.
A native of Loveland, Colo., Wiersema totaled a combined 37 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and two blocked shots while shooting 13-for-21 (.619) from the floor and 5-for-12 (.417) from 3-point range in wins over Midland and Dordt. With his first basket of the game at Dordt, Wiersema eclipsed 1,000 points for his career, making him the 33rd player in program history to accomplish that feat. On the season, Wiersema is averaging 15.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.0 steal per game while shooting 55.6 percent from the field. In last week’s action, the Bulldogs defeated Midland, 80-63, and Dordt, 84-82.
Concordia (7-1, 2-1 GPAC) will host 10th-ranked Jamestown (8-0, 2-0 GPAC) at 7:45 p.m. CT on Tuesday. The Bulldogs have won 20 of their last 21 home games.
Schutte, Bulldogs pull away from No. 10 Jamestown in high intensity clash
Nov. 24, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Head Coach Ben Limback referred to Tuesday’s high intensity clash between the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team and 10th-ranked Jamestown as a “title fight.” The Bulldogs absorbed some haymakers from an imposing Jimmie frontcourt but bounced back to deliver the knockout punch in the form of a 22-6 blitz to close out the game. In one of the program’s most significant regular-season triumphs in many years, Concordia sent Jamestown packing, 92-76, on Tuesday (Nov. 23).
Limback’s program is now 21-1 over its last 22 home games (including eight wins in a row inside Friedrich Arena). This was the type of signature win the Bulldogs (8-1, 3-1 GPAC) needed to legitimize hopes of a potentially special season.
“It was a title fight,” Limback said. “It was two teams that could really score it. I didn’t know if we would ever get rebounds there. We kept giving them second and third opportunities. When we started giving up threes to them in the first half, that really changed the momentum. We made our run in the last eight minutes – Gage (Smith) got some rebounds and we started to get some turnovers and breakaway layups. And how about Noah Schutte? He continues to make some big plays.”
Schutte is developing into a star before everyone’s very eyes. There’s no fear in the Laurel, Neb., native, who finished the game with a tissue wedged in his right nostril. During the 10-0 spurt that gave Concordia an 80-70 lead with just under 4:30 remaining, Schutte buried two cold-blooded treys. The second one even prompted a rare fist pump from Limback. The Bulldogs wanted this one, bad.
While dropping in 27 points on Tuesday, Schutte managed to surpass his previous career high (21) from the win at Dordt three days earlier. This time around, Schutte curled in four treys and was a perfect 5-for-5 from the foul line. He struck for three-point plays three separate times.
“We knew we had to bring the energy today,” Schutte said. “Really tough team, really physical. I think our toughness was great today down the stretch. Holding them to 31 points in the second half was the key to our victory … Coach wants me to shoot rhythm threes. My teammates always tell me at halftime – just let it fly. Down the stretch you just have to shoot it with confidence and see it go in.”
In terms of physical, man-to-man action, this one lived up to the billing. The Jamestown towers of Mason Walters and Devon Schultz were a lot to handle on the interior. Walters is almost always going to get his. He notched 28 points and 11 rebounds while Schultz powered his way to 16 points and 12 rebounds. As a team, the Jimmies held a commanding 43-27 advantage on the boards while grabbing 20 that were of the offensive variety.
That’s not to say there weren’t plenty of energy plays for Concordia, which forced many more one-and-dones down the stretch. AJ Watson came through with a momentum-building steal and the likes of Carter Kent, Gage Smith and Justin Wiersema supplied their typical offensive production. Kent got loose for a couple of late buckets to help grow the lead as part of his 15-point, four-assist outing. Smith added 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals while Wiersema collected 12 points and eight rebounds.
The well ran dry for Jamestown (8-1, 2-1 GPAC), which suffered its first defeat of the season. The Jimmies were just 1-for-8 from 3-point range after halftime. They finished with an overall shooting percentage of 45.1 (32-for-71), falling short of the 50.8 percent clip (32-for-63) posted by the Bulldogs. Concordia was also a spotless 17-for-17 from the foul line.
Said Limback, “You knew they were going to have size. We didn’t want them to score the offensive rebounds, and that’s easier said than done. I think we saw what happens when we do get rebounds – we can score. We knew we were going to have to beat them from the perimeter and get out in transition. Thankfully in the second half we started to pull away.”
Up next, the Bulldogs will head to Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday for an exhibition contest with NCAA Division II Rockhurst University. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT. Concordia will return to GPAC play next week.
Bulldogs look to extend GPAC win streak against Morningside, Northwestern
Nov. 29, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – A week after claiming a signature win over No. 10 Jamestown, the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team enters this week with an opportunity to make another statement. The Bulldogs are preparing to play at No. 22 Morningside on Wednesday and then host Northwestern on Saturday. Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad (8-1, 3-1 GPAC) has won three-straight conference outings since suffering its only defeat of the season. Both opponents this week were picked in the top four of the GPAC preseason poll.
This Week
Wednesday, Dec. 1 at (22) Morningside (5-1, 3-0 GPAC), 7:45 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Dec. 4 vs. Northwestern (8-2, 1-1 GPAC), 3:45 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats | 104.9 Max Country
By the numbers
· Concordia made a splash last week when it ended the victory over Jamestown with a 22-6 run that left the final score at 92-76. It marked the program’s first win over a top-10 opponent since edging then ninth-ranked Benedictine College (Kan.), 66-65, on Nov. 2, 2019. The latest triumph just might push the Bulldogs back into the NAIA top 25 for the first time since the 2010-11 season when they landed at No. 20. In the most recent poll (Nov. 17), Concordia was listed among others receiving votes (tied for 32nd). During Limback’s tenure, the Bulldogs finished as a “receiving votes” team following the 2016-17 and 2019-20 seasons. The 2019-20 team won the GPAC tournament and qualified for the national tournament.
· Laurel, Neb., native Noah Schutte has emerged as one of the great stories of the early season run. A reserve who played limited minutes in 2020-21, Schutte has now moved into a starting role and has capitalized. In back-to-back games – wins over Dordt and No. 10 Jamestown – Schutte has reset his career high by going for 21 points and then 27 points. Schutte piled up 27 versus Jamestown while making 9-of-19 shots from the field and 5-of-5 shots from the foul line. He’s now averaging 12.9 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 49.4 percent from the field. During an impressive high school career, Schutte notched more than 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds and led Laurel-Concord-Coleridge High School to a Nebraska Class D1 state championship.
· Concordia has really made life difficult on visitors to Friedrich Arena. The Bulldogs are 21-1 over their past 22 games played at home and currently own an eight-game home win streak. Many of the games played at Friedrich Arena during the aforementioned 22-game stretch have not been competitive. Of the 16 home victories occurring since the start of the 2020-21 season, 14 have come by double-digit margins. The only team to win inside Friedrich Arena since late January of 2020 has been Morningside. In other words, every team in the GPAC other than Morningside has lost its most recent trip to Seward.
· Schutte’s emergence has made the Bulldogs an even more lethal team. All five starters are averaging in double figures: Carter Kent (14.9), Justin Wiersema (14.8), Gage Smith (14.1), Schutte (12.9) and AJ Watson (10.3). From a career perspective, both Kent (1,279) and Wiersema (1,029) have both eclipsed 1,000 points. In the win over Jamestown, three teammates joined Schutte in double figures: Smith (16), Kent (15) and Wiersema (12). In the 87-70 exhibition loss at NCAA Division II Rockhurst University (Mo.) on Nov. 27, Wiersema went off for 30 points while Watson posted 21 points in his hometown of Kansas City.
· At 8-1, Concordia has equaled the best nine-game start to a season during Limback’s tenure. Last season’s team also stood at 8-1 thanks to an eight-game winning streak that followed a season opening loss to Tabor College (Kan.). The program hasn’t started out 9-1 in the first 10 games since the 2008-09 campaign. That particular team got to 10-1 before suffering its second defeat (finished at 20-12 overall). The high-water mark for wins in a season since Limback took over in 2013-14 is 24 by the 2019-20 national qualifying squad.
The opponents
Morningside has had Concordia’s number, winning 11-straight series meetings. The Bulldogs have not beaten the Mustangs since sweeping two regular-season matchups during the 2015-16 campaign. Morningside has a first-year head coach this season in Trent Miller, who takes over from Jim Sykes, now the school’s Athletics Director. Miller has plenty of talent to work with thanks to a roster that features big man Trey Brown (17.0 ppg and 11.3 rpg). The Mustangs have been sharp in conference play, defeating Dakota Wesleyan, Dordt and Doane all by double-digit margins. Wednesday will be a return to the alma mater for Concordia assistant coach Ryan Tegtmeier, who piled up 1,349 points in his Morningside career.
Northwestern has been a consistent force while under the direction of 22-year Head Coach Kris Korver. The Red Raiders are 8-2 overall this season with the two defeats occurring during Thanksgiving week (Midland and Peru State College). The Bulldogs already dealt with one of the nation’s top big men in Mason Walters and now will get Brown and Northwestern star Alex Van Kalsbeek (22.3 ppg, 9.3 rpg) in the same week. Meanwhile, Trent Hilbrands (17.7 ppg, .392 3-pt FG%) provides scoring from the perimeter. Concordia has managed to win five-straight meetings over the Red Raiders.
Next week
The Bulldogs will host Mount Marty on Dec. 8 and then play at Hastings on Dec. 11. Those two outings will be the final GPAC contests prior to New Year's Day.
Rally comes up short in pulse-pounder at No. 18 Morningside
Dec. 2, 2021
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – It was a down-to-the-wire battle between two squads with hopes of reigning atop the GPAC by season’s end. Unfortunately for the visitors on Wednesday (Dec. 1), Morningside continues to be an unsolvable jigsaw puzzle. The Concordia University Men’s Basketball team couldn’t quite overcome a sluggish first half in a what amounted to a 79-77 loss to the 18th-ranked Mustangs in Sioux City, Iowa.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad returned to GPAC action for the first time since last week’s victory over 10th-ranked Jamestown. Both losses for the Bulldogs (8-2, 3-2 GPAC) have come in Sioux City.
“The first half we didn’t seem to have the fight or belief that we could win this game,” Limback said. “That was the challenge at halftime. They played with more effort than we did in the first half. Second half, I thought we really settled in. Sam Scarpelli off the bench was really big and Gage Smith made some plays and everybody fed off it. I loved our second half – we just didn’t make the plays down the stretch. To come on the road and dig a hole in the first half, our takeaway is to learn from it.”
Concordia picked up its intensity in the second half with the aid of the spark that Scarpelli provided. Scarpelli sank both a layup and a trey during a 9-0 run that got the Bulldogs within three (57-54) midway through the second half and made it a barn burner the rest of the way. Concordia even held a four-point lead (77-73) with under a minute-and-a-half to go following Carter Kent’s trey.
Just seconds away from a potential overtime, the Mustangs turned to big man Trey Brown, who muscled his way to the game-winning basket with 2.5 seconds left on the clock. The Bulldogs got one last look, but Smith’s 35-footer banked off the backboard and rimmed out. Morningside (6-1, 4-0 GPAC) could finally exhale with its 12th-straight series win over Concordia in hand.
Kent enjoyed a monster second half on his way to a 20-point night. He was also highly commended by Limback for his defensive work on Mustang leading scorer Aidan Vanderloo, who went 0-for-5 from the floor and failed to score. Meanwhile, Noah Schutte made his first seven shot attempts and notched 17 points. Scarpelli finished with 10 points and three assists while Justin Wiersema put up nine points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. Smith chipped in with eight points and seven rebounds.
Brown paced the Mustangs with 20 points and eight rebounds. Other double-figure scorers for Morningside were Will Pottebaum (15), Zach Imig (10) and Joey Skoff (10). Both teams shot better than 50 percent from the floor while rebounds (31-30 Concordia edge) and turnovers (14-11 Morningside advantage) were mostly a wash.
The Bulldogs will expect to put together a full 40 minutes next time on the road. Said Limback, “Every night you have to show up for both halves and compete. Morningside’s a good team and they’re going to win games on the road and at home. We had a chance to win at the end and steal one on the road. The expectations for this team are high, and I think we know that was one we could have had. It’s going to hurt. Hopefully it motivates us to be better next time out.”
This was a reunion of sorts for Concordia assistant coach Ryan Tegtmeier, a former standout player at Morningside. As for the Mustangs, they have a first-year head coach in Trent Miller, who took over from Jim Sykes.
The Bulldogs will return home on Saturday to host Northwestern (8-3, 1-2 GPAC) for a 3:45 p.m. CT tipoff from Friedrich Arena. Concordia has won each of the previous five meetings with the Red Raiders. The Bulldogs are 21-1 over their past 22 home games (eight wins in a row).
Lancers, Broncos up next in final pre-New Year's GPAC action
Dec. 6, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – An overall light month in terms of conference action, the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team will wrap up GPAC play for the month of December this week as it hosts Mount Marty on Wednesday and visits Hastings on Saturday. Currently situated just outside of the NAIA top 25, the Bulldogs could position themselves for a return to the national rankings with a couple of victories. Concordia went 1-1 last week with a 79-77 loss at No. 18 Morningside and a 95-78 home win over Northwestern. Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad currently sits at 9-2 overall (4-2 GPAC).
This Week
Wednesday, Dec. 8 vs. Mount Marty (3-11, 0-6 GPAC), 7:45 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats | 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Dec. 11 at Hastings (6-5, 1-3 GPAC), 3:45 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats | 104.9 Max Country
By the numbers
· In the official polls released last week, the Bulldogs checked in at third in the GPAC (behind Jamestown and Morningside) while being listed third amongst “others receiving votes” in the NAIA coaches’ poll. The snub from the official top 25 comes despite Concordia being rated much higher by other sources – 14th by Massey Ratings and 19th by the NAIA Hoops Report. The Bulldogs continue to seek their first top 25 ranking in the coaches’ poll since the 2010-11 season. The next national poll will be unveiled on Dec. 15.
· Ever since the loss at Briar Cliff on Nov. 13, Concordia has clicked offensively. Over the past five outings (4-1 record), the Bulldogs have posted respective shooting percentages of 54.0, 50.7, 50.8, 51.8 and 55.7. Nationally, Concordia ranks 21st in free throw percentage (.760) and 23rd in field goal percentage (.496). The Bulldogs will attempt to improve upon their 33.8 percent shooting from 3-point range. However, Concordia has been adept at getting quality looks inside the arc and ranks seventh nationally for fewest turnovers per game (9.4).
· Carter Kent appears on track for his best season yet. The Crete High School product totaled 52 points on 18-for-33 (.545) shooting from the floor last week. His 32 points in the win over Northwestern represented a career high, topping his previous best of 29 points in a win last season at Mount Marty. Kent continues to rise up the program’s all-time lists having moved to No. 10 in career 3-point field goals (203) and to 17th in career scoring (1,331). With 169 more points, Kent would become the ninth player in program history to reach 1,500 career points. On the season, Kent is averaging 16.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.73 steals per game.
· The bulk of the offensive production comes from a starting lineup with all five averaging 9.8 points or more per game: Kent (16.9), Justin Wiersema (14.2), Noah Schutte (13.7), Gage Smith (13.1) and AJ Watson (9.8). The emergence of Schutte continues to be a major storyline this season. After playing a much smaller role last season, Schutte has moved into the starting lineup. He has averaged 20.8 points per game over the past four outings with a high of 27 points in the win over No. 10 Jamestown. As for Wiersema, he has run his career point total to 1,052.
· The home success has been astounding recently with the Bulldogs winning 22 of their last 23 games (including 10 in a row) played inside Friedrich Arena. During the current 10-game home win streak, Concordia has outscored its opponents by an average margin of 17.2 points. Only one of the 10 victories has come by a single-digit margin. With the exception of Morningside, every GPAC team has lost its most recent trip to Seward.
The opponents
Mount Marty has a first-year head coach in Collin Authier, previously the assistant coach at NCAA Division II Augustana University. The Lancers have slipped from a win-loss standpoint since going 20-12 during the 2019-20 season. Mount Marty has begun this season with six-straight losses to open up GPAC play, although it lost by only seven points at No. 18 Morningside, 82-75, this past Saturday. Mount Marty is averaging 71.3 points while allowing 77.9 points. The team’s top two scorers are Nick Coleman (13.8 ppg) and Tyrell Harper (13.4 ppg). Concordia swept last season’s two meetings from the Lancers and has won three in a row in the series.
Bill Gavers is in his ninth season at as head coach of his alma mater. The Broncos are improved from last season when they struggled to a 6-19 overall record (2-18 GPAC). Hastings owns a win this season over Mount Marty and played closely with No. 10 Jamestown in a 91-88 loss this past weekend. The biggest standouts for the Broncos are Dashawn Walker (16.5 ppg) and Karson Gansebom (15.2 ppg). Hastings is looking to snap an 11-game series losing streak against the Bulldogs.
Next week
Concordia will take a break from conference play as it looks forward to a trip to Daytona Beach, Fla., for games on Dec. 19 and 21 versus the likes of No. 23 William Jessup University (Calif.) and Rochester University (Mich.).
Kent earns GPAC Player of the Week honors
Dec. 7, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – An offensive outburst last week has resulted in Concordia University’s Carter Kent being named the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Player of the Week, as announced by the conference on Tuesday (Dec. 7). The Concordia Men’s Basketball team has collected two of the first three honors handed out this 2021-22 season. Justin Wiersema was named the GPAC Player of the Week on Nov. 23. This marks the second time in Kent’s career that he has earned the weekly award.
Head Coach Ben Limback lauded Kent just as much for his defensive play last week as compared to his offensive exploits. Kent played stellar defensively while guarding the likes of Morningside’s Aidan Vanderloo and Northwestern’s Trent Hilbrands. On the other end of the floor, Kent totaled a combined 52 points last week while going 18-for-33 from the floor, 7-for-17 from 3-point range and 9-for-10 from the foul line. His 32 points in the win over Northwestern represented a career high. The Crete High School product is averaging 16.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.73 steals per game.
On the program’s all-time lists, Kent currently ranks 10th in 3-point field goals (203), 13th in assists (250) and 17th in scoring (1,331). With 169 more points, Kent would become the ninth player in program history to reach 1,500 career points.
Kent and the Bulldogs (9-2, 4-2 GPAC) will resume action on Wednesday when they host Mount Marty (3-11, 0-6 GPAC) at 7:45 p.m. CT. Concordia has won 10-straight home games.
Smith's monster second half allows Concordia to pull away from Mount Marty
Dec. 8, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – There were ebbs and flows in a performance not quite as crisp as desired, but the end result was another double-digit home victory for the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team. A 16-4 Mount Marty run made for some drama before the Bulldogs restored order behind Gage Smith’s monster second half. Concordia defended the home court, 87-72, while shooting 53.6 percent from the floor inside Friedrich Arena on Wednesday (Dec. 8).
Head Coach Ben Limback’s program has won 11 in a row and 23 of its last 24 at home. The Bulldogs have moved to 10-2 overall (5-2 GPAC) on the season.
“That’s a tough basketball team,” Limback said. “I told the guys that Mount Marty has talent and they change the pace up on you. They’re very methodical – and they don’t quit. We got up 16 in the second half and then I thought we became unaggressive. Once Gage started to go to work inside, that really changed the momentum … I really liked how we finished the game. We stepped up and made some free throws. Any win in this league is a good win.”
Concordia had its hands full with Tyrell Harper, who paced the Lancers (3-12, 0-7 GPAC) with 24 points and 10 rebounds. With Harper at the forefront, Mount Marty chiseled a 14-point halftime deficit down to just two points midway through the second half. That’s when Smith took over. He poured in nine points during a 16-2 Bulldog run that supplied a 70-54 advantage with just over four minutes remaining. The Lancers never got closer than nine points the rest of the way.
Smith took the baton from Noah Schutte, who enjoyed a stellar first half (10 points on 4-of-5 shooting). Carter Kent also played an instrumental role down the stretch and finished with 19 points (6-for-11 shooting), one day after being named the GPAC Player of the Week. When at its best on Wednesday, Concordia asserted its will.
“It was 54-52 and it was just like, boys, we’re not playing like ourselves,” Smith said. “We have to play our game and not play their game. We came out and did what we do best – back screens and cuts. You’re going to have to fight every night. There are no days off in the GPAC. Everybody’s really good.”
Smith beasted his way to 25 points and 11 rebounds with 18 of his points coming after halftime. Schutte (14 points) joined Smith and Kent in double figures in scoring. AJ Watson and Justin Wiersema chipped in eight points apiece. Wiersema dished out five assists and Watson dropped four dimes. Off the bench, Ryan Holt put up six points and four rebounds. As of late, the Bulldogs have become a dead-eye free throw shooting team. They made 19-of-21 from the charity stripe on Wednesday.
“The guys knew in the locker room we didn’t play our best,” Limback said. “We turned it over a little too much and offensively didn’t get in a rhythm until later in the second half. We wanted to get a win and protect our home court and keep fighting in this league.”
Mount Marty had lost by just seven points four days earlier at No. 18 Morningside. The Lancers got 19 points from Elijah Pappas in addition to the 24 from Harper. Mount Marty (2020 GPAC tournament runner up) fell in Seward despite shooting 47.2 percent from the field.
The Bulldogs will close GPAC play for the calendar year 2021 when they play at Hastings (6-6, 1-4 GPAC) on Saturday. Tipoff is slated for 3:45 p.m. CT from Lynn Farrell Arena. Concordia will attempt to extend its 11-game series win streak over the Broncos, who slipped, 83-78, at Midland on Wednesday.
Bulldogs crack NAIA top 25, land at No. 23
Dec. 15, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – Other teams in recent years were close, but the 2021-22 edition of Concordia University Men’s Basketball has broken though. For the first time since the 2010-11 season, the program has garnered a top 25 ranking in the official NAIA coaches’ poll. The Bulldogs landed at No. 23 in the poll released on Wednesday (Dec. 15) by the NAIA.
Head Coach Ben Limback has had past squads that hovered near the top 25 in the receiving votes category of the poll. The 2019-20 team that won the GPAC tournament title and qualified for the national tournament received votes to conclude the season. So too did the 2016-17 squad that finished 21-10 overall while led by Chandler Folkerts. During the GPAC era (2000-present), Concordia has been rated as high as No. 4, a ranking achieved during the 2004-05 national runner-up campaign. The 2010-11 team was ranked 20th in NAIA Division II at one point that season.
Other GPAC teams to garner votes were No. 12 Jamestown and Morningside (listed among others receiving votes). The Bulldogs are ranked second in the official conference poll.
Concordia MBB highest national ranks by season, GPAC era
2021-22 – 23rd
2019-20 – RV
2016-17 – RV
2010-11 – 20th
2009-10 – 24th
2008-09 – 17th
2005-06 – 6th
2004-05 – 4th (national runner up)
2003-04 – 7th
Beach-bound Bulldogs prepping for two in Sunshine State
Dec. 15, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – The Bulldogs are soon to be bound for the beach – Dayton Beach, Fla., to be exact. The Concordia University Men’s Basketball team will carry a fresh NAIA national ranking to the southeast where it will take on NAIA nonconference opponents William Jessup University (Calif.) and Rochester University (Mich.) as part of the Daytona Beach Shootout (Dec. 19, 21). Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will serve as the host of the event. Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad owns an overall record of 11-2 (6-2 GPAC).
Daytona Beach Shootout
Location: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | Daytona Beach, Fla.
Dec. 19 vs. No. 8 William Jessup (12-1), 6 p.m. CST / 7 p.m. EST
--Live Webcast | Live Stats
Dec. 21 vs. Rochester (7-4), 1 p.m. CST / 2 p.m. EST
--Live Webcast | Live Stats
By the numbers
· The Bulldogs have cracked the NAIA top 25 for the first time since the 2010-11 season, landing at No. 23 in the coaches’ poll released on Wednesday (Dec. 15). They are also rated second in the GPAC. Under Limback, Concordia has had past squads that hovered near the top 25 in the receiving votes category of the poll. The 2019-20 team that won the GPAC tournament title and qualified for the national tournament received votes to conclude the season. So too did the 2016-17 squad that finished 21-10 overall while led by Chandler Folkerts. During the GPAC era (2000-present), Concordia has been rated as high as No. 4, a ranking achieved during the 2004-05 national runner-up campaign. The 2010-11 team was ranked 20th in NAIA Division II at one point that season.
· At 11-2, the Bulldogs have achieved their best 13-game start to a season since the 2004-05 squad raced out to a 13-0 mark. Not only that, Concordia is currently situated atop the GPAC with a 6-2 conference mark (three other conference teams have exactly two GPAC losses). There’s a long way to go, but the Bulldogs have hopes of vying for the program’s first conference regular season championship during the GPAC era (2000-present). However, the program has captured three GPAC tournament titles, which occurred in 2003, 2005 and 2020. The 2020-21 squad equaled a program record for GPAC wins in a single season while going 14-6 in league play.
· Offensive efficiency has been key to putting the Bulldogs on the map with some national respect. Among NAIA teams, Concordia ranks 10th in free throw percentage (.775), 12th in fewest turnovers per game (9.8) and 19th in field goal percentage (.496). A streak of six-straight games with a field goal percentage north of 50 ended last week when the Bulldogs ‘only’ shot 47.0 percent from the floor in the 81-66 win at Hastings. Over the past five outings, Concordia has made 71-of-78 (.910) attempts from the foul line.
· It’s safe to say that Crete High School product Carter Kent is playing the best ball of his career. Consider what he’s done over the last four games: combined totals of 96 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists and five steals while making 34-of-64 shots from the floor, including 15-for-34 shooting from beyond the arc. On the season, Kent is averaging 17.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game and shooting 48.3 percent from the floor and 37.8 percent from 3-point range. Kent has pushed his career scoring total to 1,375 (13th most in program history). Those numbers don’t indicate Kent’s play on the defensive end, which has been similarly stellar.
· The starting five has been extremely productive with each of them averaging 9.7 points or more per game. In addition, four starters are shooting better than 48 percent from the field: Noah Schutte (.565), Gage Smith (.559), Justin Wiersema (.520) and Kent (.483). Following Kent, the team’s top scorers are Schutte (14.1), Smith (13.6) and Wiersema (13.6). Smith put forth a noteworthy performance in last week’s win over Mount Marty when he totaled 25 points and 11 rebounds. Gage’s younger brother Tristan wowed the crowd at Hastings with an emphatic one-handed slam in transition.
The opponents
A national tournament qualifier in 2019, William Jessup is looking to get back to that stage. Now in his ninth season leading the program, Head Coach Lance Von Vogt has the Warriors out to a 12-1 start that includes two wins over then 13th-ranked Oregon Tech. The Warriors have a top-notch backcourt starring Myles Corey (15.6 ppg) and Cashemin Williams (15.3 ppg). William Jessup has averaged 82.5 points, is shooting 50.0 percent from the floor and holding opponents to an average of 71.5 points and shooting percentage of 41.7. Located in Rocklin, Calif., the Warriors competed as a member of the Golden State Athletic Conference. They vaulted from 23rd all the way to No. 8 in this week’s NAIA coaches’ poll.
Rochester is a member of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, also home to Concordia-Ann Arbor. Eleventh-year Head Coach Klint Pleasant has won 231 games during his successful tenure leading the Warriors. Currently 7-4 overall, Rochester has been stronger on the defensive end as compared to the other end. The Warriors have held opponents to 71.0 points per game and 40.5 percent shooting from the floor. In recent weeks, Rochester has benefitted from the return to the court of Virgil Walker Jr., a returning NAIA Honorable Mention All-American who averaged 17.7 points last season. Rochester raised eyebrows with its 78-51 upset of then seventh-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University on Dec. 8.
Returning home
After returning from Florida, Concordia will play one more nonconference game: Dec. 29 at Ottawa University (Kan.). The Bulldogs will be back inside Friedrich Arena on New Year's Day when it is set to host Doane.
Concordia tripped up in top 25 Daytona Beach matchup
Dec. 19, 2021
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – After settling in near the Atlantic Ocean, the 23rd-ranked Concordia University Men’s Basketball team went to the wire in its first game of the Daytona Beach Shootout. The Bulldogs just didn’t have enough offensive firepower in what amounted to a 70-62 loss to No. 8 William Jessup University (Calif.) in a contest played on the campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Sunday (Dec. 19) evening. Concordia was held to 37.3 percent shooting.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad slipped to 11-3 overall in its first action since being rewarded with a top 25 national ranking. The Bulldogs have one more game to play in Daytona Beach.
“I thought we competed hard and laid everything out there,” Limback said. “We just didn’t have a clean game. We turned it over too many times and offensively we were too timid in the first half with some missed bunnies. We guarded much better in the second half but just wasn’t a clean enough game against a team like that.”
The Warriors (14-1), who compete in the Golden State Athletic Conference, will be a handful for everyone they play. They were coming off a 75-69 win over No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan University on Saturday. William Jessup’s athleticism and length played a role in Concordia’s subpar shooting performance (at one point it missed 13 shots in a row in the first half). The Bulldogs grinded through it, tied the game in the second half and got within four points in the final minute. They managed to limit the Warriors to 32.1 percent (9-for-28) shooting in the second half.
William Jessup seemed to stay one step ahead thanks to a big effort off the bench from Tarren Storey-Way (19 points) and the work of Myles Corey (16 points and three steals) and Cashemin Williams (12 points and nine assists). The length and athleticism of the Warriors (seven blocked shots) caused issues throughout the night.
A major storyline was the absence of Concordia budding star Noah Schutte down the stretch. At the 10:18 mark of the second half, Schutte drove the right baseline and flushed home a dunk. At the time, the Bulldogs trailed by just one (49-48) and Schutte (16 points and 10 rebounds) had already notched a double-double. Soon after that, he was helped off the court by two teammates and didn’t return until the very latter stages of the game.
Schutte was the team’s best offensive performer on an evening when Carter Kent (1-for-10 from the floor) and Gage Smith (0-for-10 from the floor) had uncharacteristic outings on the offensive end. Meanwhile, Justin Wiersema put up 14 points and six rebounds and AJ Watson chipped in with five points. Ryan Holt and Klay Uher supplied five points apiece off the bench. Smith totaled nine boards.
The loss halted a three-game win streak for the Bulldogs, who had hopes of claiming a second win this season over a top 10 opponent (defeated then No. 10 Jamestown on Nov. 23). Despite Sunday’s result, Concordia remains a confident locker room.
“There’s a lot of optimism for us,” Limback said. “Some of our best offensive players certainly didn’t play their best. Some of that is due to the way they defended us, but we showed we can compete. That’s a great team we played. That’s the type of team you’re going to see at a national tournament or a conference championship level. We can hang our heads or we can learn from it.”
Concordia will be back in action at the same venue, the ICI Center, on Tuesday for a 1 p.m. CST / 2 p.m. EST tipoff with Rochester University (Mich.) (9-4). Rochester is slated to play against Indiana Wesleyan on Monday.
Break ends with trip to Ottawa, New Year's Day home game
Dec. 27, 2021
SEWARD, Neb. – The Christmas break for Concordia University Men’s Basketball will come to an end on Wednesday when it will venture to Ottawa University (Kan.) for a nonconference clash. The contest will mark the first action for the 23rd-ranked Bulldogs since their 71-64 win over Rochester University (Kan.) at the Daytona Beach Shootout on Dec. 21. Also this week, Concordia will ring in 2022 by hosting Doane on New Year’s Day. GPAC play was put on hold after Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad (12-3, 6-2 GPAC) won at Hastings on Dec. 11.
This Week
Wednesday, Dec. 29 at Ottawa (10-5), 6 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Jan. 1 vs. Doane (10-6, 3-3 GPAC), 3:45 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats | 104.9 Max Country
By the numbers
· The Bulldogs are prepping for action within the region after taking on two unfamiliar foes at the Daytona Beach Shootout (Dec. 19, 21). In Concordia’s first game in The Sunshine State, it took on red hot William Jessup University (Calif.), now 14-1 overall and ranked eighth in the NAIA, and fell by a 70-62 score. The Bulldogs were able to make it a wire-to-wire battle despite Noah Schutte being sidelined for much of the latter half of the second half and uncharacteristically rough offensive nights from a couple of key players. Schutte finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds while Justin Wiersema added 14 points. Concordia was held to 37.3 percent shooting (compared to 42.4 percent for William Jessup).
· Before leaving Florida, the Bulldogs secured a win thanks in large part to a stifling defensive performance in the second half. Concordia allowed Rochester to shoot just 25.8 percent (8-for-31) after halftime while earning the 71-64 triumph. All five Bulldog starters cracked double figures: Schutte (15), Carter Kent (13), Wiersema (11), Gage Smith (10) and AJ Watson (10). Schutte also grabbed 10 rebounds while recording his second double-double in a row. Concordia enjoyed a large advantage from the free throw line in going 21-for-28 – Rochester went 4-for-6 on free throws. In addition, the Bulldogs outrebounded the Warriors, 41-31.
· Limback’s crew is exactly halfway through the regular season and sports records of 7-0 at home, 2-2 in true road games and 3-1 in neutral contests. The neutral site clashes came at the Hastings Classic and the Daytona Beach Shootout. In Concordia’s most recent game played inside Friedrich Arena, it toppled Mount Marty and extended the program home win streak to 11. The Bulldogs have won 23 of their last 24 home outings. Overall this season, Concordia is averaging 80.5 points per game and shooting 48.6 percent from the floor while surrendering 70.6 points per game and a field goal percentage of 43.5. The Bulldogs rank seventh nationally in free throw percentage (.771).
· There will be five games matching GPAC teams on Saturday as league play kicks back into gear. With 12 games left within conference regular season play, Concordia has put itself in position to compete for the program’s first ever GPAC regular season title. The Bulldogs sit atop the GPAC with a 6-2 league mark. Three others also have just two conference losses: Morningside (5-2), Jamestown (4-2) and Briar Cliff (4-2). In the most recent official GPAC ratings, Concordia landed at No. 2 behind Jamestown. In the NAIA coaches’ poll announced on Dec. 15, the Bulldogs checked in at No. 23, marking the first top 25 ranking for the program since the 2010-11 season.
· Concordia very nearly has all five starters averaging in double figures: Kent (16.6), Schutte (14.3), Wiersema (13.5), Smith (12.6) and Watson (9.6). Schutte is one of the big breakthrough stars in the GPAC this season. The Laurel, Neb., native has averaged 5.3 rebounds and is shooting 56.5 percent from the floor. Currently, Kent ranks seventh among GPAC players in scoring. An efficient offensive team, the Bulldogs recently put together a stretch of six-straight games with shooting percentages above 50.
The opponents
Concordia and Ottawa met up in the first round of the 2020 NAIA Division II national tournament with the result being an 87-84 win for the Braves (final NAIA Division II game ever). Ottawa received votes nationally to begin this season but has since fallen off the national radar. Sixteenth-year Head Coach Aaron Siebenthall’s squad can fill it up offensively, currently sporting national ranks of 17th in scoring average (86.7) and 28th in field goal percentage (.490). On Wednesday, Ottawa will end an extended break having last played at Briar Cliff on Dec. 17 (83-80 defeat).
Doane has made progress this season while looking for the program’s first winning campaign since 2012-13. The Tigers have reached double digits in wins for the first time since the 2017-18 season. Head Coach Ian McKeithen’s squad owns a signature win – an 89-82 victory at then 10th-ranked Jamestown on Dec. 3. Often in recent years, Doane has tried to slow the pace of play. So far this season, the Tigers are averaging 74.3 points and allowing 64.4 points per game. Veteran guard Anthony Laravie leads the way with an average of 14.4 points per game. Concordia has won two in a row and four of the past five meetings with Doane.
Next week
GPAC play heats back up next week as the Bulldogs are slated to play at Mount Marty on Jan. 5 before returning home to host Dakota Wesleyan on Jan. 8.
First-place Dawgs continue home win streak in defensive grinder
SEWARD, Neb. – The action on New Year’s Day sharply contrasted the pace of play in the win at Ottawa University (Kan.) three days earlier. The transition game was kept in check so the 23rd-ranked Concordia University Men’s Basketball team got tough on the defensive end in the process of pulling out a 60-50 home win over Doane. The Bulldogs flustered the Tigers into shooting 33.9 percent from the floor.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad owns a four-game win streak within the conference and has kept its perch atop the GPAC standings at 7-2 within the league (14-3 overall). This Concordia team has many ways to skin a cat – or a Tiger.
“We wanted to get the new year off to a get start,” Limback said. “I thought they did a great job of controlling the tempo. We couldn’t get out in transition as much, but we got it done defensively. I’m really proud of our effort, especially the last two minutes. I thought we had some suffocating possessions when it mattered.”
The Bulldog man-to-man squeezed the life out of Doane down the stretch. A Brady Timm basket with 6:03 left in the game got the Tigers within three (53-50). Doane proceeded to miss its final nine shots from the floor while going scoreless over the closing six minutes. AJ Watson helped put the finishing touches on the victory with a trey and a pair of free throws in that closing stanza.
In a low possession contest, Concordia shot a respectable 46.0 percent (23-for-50) from the floor. Justin Wiersema put forth a strong showing in posting 14 points while knocking down three triples (in addition to a team high seven rebounds and two steals). He was joined in double figures by three teammates: Gage Smith (13), Watson (12) and Noah Schutte (11). Carter Kent was limited to four points, but his defensive play was a key factor in containing Doane leading scorer Anthony Laravie.
“It just shows our versatility,” Wiersema said of how the Bulldogs find ways to win. “Their game plan was to slow us up. They know we’re a fast-paced team and we like to run the floor. We tried to take that to our advantage. It was definitely a defensive battle today, but we ended up making enough shots.”
Doane (10-7, 3-4 GPAC) kept coming despite being down 10 midway through the first half (its only lead came after the game’s first basket). The Tigers got 15 points from Josiah Gardner and 14 from Alec Oberhauser. However, Doane struggled mightily to score from the perimeter. Guards Laravie and Brady Timm went a combined 4-for-22 from the floor.
Concordia has won five of the past six meetings with the Tigers and has pushed its home winning streak to 12. This is a team that is showing the type of game-to-game focus that it will need to carry throughout the remaining weeks of the regular season.
“This team is hungry,” Limback said. “They want to compete for the league title. I think they understand you have to win each game and you have to win each day in practice. I didn’t think we came out as hungry throughout the game as we could have. I told them at the end, defensively that’s what we’re capable of. There are definitely goals within the locker room and I think they understand the process of how you get to those goals.”
The Bulldogs will be back on the road on Wednesday for a 7:45 p.m. CT tipoff at Mount Marty (4-14, 0-9 GPAC) in a matchup of teams at opposite ends of the GPAC standings. In this season’s first meeting, Concordia pulled away from the Lancers for an 87-72 home win. The Bulldogs have won four in row in the series.
Concordia upset in Yankton despite 35 from Kent
Jan. 5, 2022
YANKTON, S.D. – A matchup between teams at opposite ends of the GPAC standings resulted in frustration for the 23rd-ranked Concordia University Men’s Basketball team. Despite a career high performance from Carter Kent, the Bulldogs did not pass the test in Yankton, S.D. Tyrell Harper and Mount Marty celebrated an upset victory in overtime, 70-67, on Wednesday (Jan. 5) night.
The loss halted a four-game league win streak for Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad, which began the day leading the conference standings. Concordia slipped to 14-4 overall (7-3 GPAC).
“I didn’t think we moved the ball well tonight,” Limback said. “We didn’t have a collective group performance offensively. I thought Carter had a great game to push us, but we didn’t get a lot of rhythm shots. Defensively we did some good things, enough to win. Offensively we didn’t play as a team. I’ve got to make sure we do better having multiple threats out there. I didn’t think we were a team offensively tonight.”
This was a second league game in a row in which the Bulldogs were unable to dictate tempo and get loose in transition the way they like to. Unlike the 60-50 win over Doane four days earlier, Concordia wasn’t able to pull out a slog of a contest. Kent nearly saved the day with his career high 35-point outing. He nailed a clutch trey that pushed the Bulldog lead to 61-57 with 1:31 left in regulation. Harper then emerged for the Lancers with two buckets in the paint to force the overtime.
Although it made only one field goal in overtime, Concordia held a 66-65 lead with less than a minute to go before Harper put the Lancers in front for good. Down 67-66 with a chance to win in the final seconds, the Bulldogs committed a costly turnover (one of 16 on the night).
Kent simply did not have enough help on the offensive end. The Crete High School product solidified himself inside the top 10 of the program’s all-time scoring list (1,452 career points) while finding the bottom of the net in virtually every way imaginable on Wednesday. Kent made 10-of-20 shots from the floor (4-for-7 from 3-point range) and drained 11-of-12 attempts from the foul line. He added three blocked shots.
Harper’s monster night included 25 points, eight rebounds, seven blocks, four assists and three steals. Elijah Pappas backed him up with 19 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. The Lancers (5-14, 1-9 GPAC) picked up their first league win of the season while shooting 39.1 percent (25-for-64) from the floor.
The second leading scorer following Kent was Sam Scarpelli, who produced eight points (3-for-5 shooting) off the bench. Justin Wiersema added seven points, six rebounds and two steals, Noah Schutte contributed six points and six rebounds and Gage Smith collected five points and six rebounds. The Bulldogs had the advantage on the boards (37-30) but shot just 38.9 percent (21-for-54) from the field.
The Bulldogs will welcome Dakota Wesleyan (6-9, 3-5 GPAC) to town on Saturday for a 3:45 p.m. CT matchup inside Friedrich Arena. The two sides last met in the quarterfinals of the 2021 GPAC tournament with the Tigers earning the win, 70-58. DWU, which won two of three from Concordia last season, will be coming off a 76-64 home loss to Briar Cliff.
No. 25 Bulldogs aiming for season sweep of No. 11 Jamestown
Jan. 13, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – After taking the middle of this week off from game action, the 25th-ranked Concordia University Men’s Basketball team will be back in action on Saturday with a major road test at No. 12 Jamestown. Both teams remain hopeful of capturing the GPAC regular season title in what remains a wide-open race. Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad sits a half-game behind Briar Cliff at the top of the league standings. The Bulldogs carry a GPAC record of 8-3 (15-4 overall) into the weekend.
Game Info
Saturday, Jan. 15 at No. 11 Jamestown (16-4, 6-4 GPAC), 3:45 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats
By the numbers
· Concordia held onto a spot in the NAIA coaches’ top 25 poll, landing at No. 25 in the rankings released on Wednesday. The Bulldogs and Jimmies are the lone GPAC teams to appear inside the top 25. Northwestern also received votes. Concordia went 4-2 since it cracked the top 25 and appeared at No. 23 in the poll unveiled on Dec. 15. The overtime loss to Mount Marty last week likely resulted in the Bulldogs moving back two spots. Prior to this season, Concordia had not broken into the top 25 since the 2010-11 season.
· While the Bulldogs were idle on Wednesday, it was a wild night within the GPAC as four of the five games were decided by three points or less, including two contests that went to overtime. After placing seventh in the GPAC last season, Briar Cliff continues to be one of the surprises of the conference. The Chargers won at Jamestown, 81-79, to improve to 8-2 within the league. First-place Briar Cliff is followed in the GPAC standings by Concordia (8-3), Morningside (7-3), Northwestern (7-3) and Jamestown (6-4). Morningside won the 2020-21 regular season title with a 16-5 conference mark.
· After the disappointing loss at Mount Marty last week, the Bulldogs rebounded with an 88-71 win over Dakota Wesleyan. Carter Kent enjoyed another monster week that saw him total 54 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and three blocked shots. He also made 17-of-31 shots from the floor (6-for-11 from 3-point range) and 14-of-15 attempts from the foul line. Kent scored 19 in the win over DWU and was joined by three teammates in double figures: Gage Smith (16), Noah Schutte (15) and AJ Watson (10). Concordia has moved its home win streak to 13 and is 25-1 in its last 26 homes games.
· In terms of scoring differential in league games, the Bulldogs have been the most impressive team in the GPAC. Through 11 GPAC contests, Concordia is averaging 78.1 points per game offensively and allowing 70.2 points. That equates to a per game scoring margin of plus-7.9, which is No. 1 in conference play among GPAC teams. The Bulldogs have won each of their six home games by margins of 10 points or more. Currently, Concordia sports conference rankings of third in scoring offense (79.7) and sixth in scoring defense (70.1) when factoring in all games played this season.
· Kent has bumped his career point total to 1,471, placing him 10th on the program’s all-time list. Limback has coached three of the school’s top 10 scorers, including Chandler Folkerts (third with 1,963) and Tanner Shuck (eighth with 1,579). Considering his scoring average of 17.2 points per game, Kent has a shot to move into the top five on the list. He’s also on the verge of becoming the ninth player in school history to reach at least 1,500 points. A Second Team All-GPAC honoree in each of the past two seasons, Kent appears poised to move to the first team.
· Kent paces the team in scoring (17.2) and assists (3.5) and is tied for the lead in steals (1.3). Meanwhile, Gage Smith tops the squad in rebounds per game (7.3). An efficient offensive team, the Bulldogs boast four starters with field goal percentages greater than 46: Noah Schutte (.556), Justin Wiersema (.517), Smith (.514) and Kent (.461). As a team, Concordia is shooting 48.7 percent from the floor, 33.7 percent from 3-point range and 76.5 percent from the free throw line. Opponents are shooting 43.1 percent from the floor, 33.6 percent from beyond the arc and 71.3 percent from the foul line.
The opponent
Jamestown remains the highest ranked team in the GPAC following a run to the national quarterfinals last season. Head Coach Danny Neville’s squad rolls out an imposing frontcourt led by reigning GPAC Player of the Year Mason Walters, who is averaging 23.4 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. The Jimmies can also shoot it from the perimeter, currently knocking down treys at a 38.9 percent clip. In this season’s first meeting, Concordia managed to pull away from Jamestown for a 92-76 win despite surrendering 20 offensive rebounds to the Jimmies. Jamestown will be focused on getting back on the right track after dropping two of its last three outings.
Next week
Two more significant challenges await next week when the Bulldogs will host Morningside on Jan. 19 before traveling to play at Northwestern on Jan. 22. By the end of next week, there could be more clarity in terms of the race for the GPAC regular season title.
Bulldogs show toughness, earn crucial road win at No. 11 Jamestown
Jan. 15, 2022
JAMESTOWN, N.D. – This was the type of win special seasons are made of. In a showdown in North Dakota on Saturday (Jan. 15), the 25th-ranked Concordia University Men’s Basketball team relinquished a 17-point lead and then showed the resolve to make the plays down the stretch. Behind a 26-point outing from Carter Kent, the Bulldogs held off No. 11 Jamestown, 82-79, for the program’s first road win over a ranked opponent since the 2020 GPAC tournament title game at the Corn Palace.
With the victory, Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad keeps pace near the top of the conference standings at 9-3 in the GPAC (16-4 overall). On the other hand, this was a critical blow to the Jimmies, who have endured five league losses, including two at the hands of Concordia.
“It was a fun celebration,” Limback said of the postgame locker room. “It was two good teams going at it with a great ending by us. Our guys were all pumped. I’m proud of our bench too. They were amazing with their energy before, during and after. Our guys have worked hard and they wanted this after coming all this way.”
The Bulldogs were faced with adverse situations in the second half that perhaps only a veteran, battle-tested team like themselves could have managed through. Instead of being demoralized by the swing of momentum, Concordia charged back with the aid of the likes of Kent, AJ Watson and Tristan Smith off the bench. With game tied at 72-72 late in the game, Kent emerged with a pair of free throws and then a bucket in the lane. Jamestown still wouldn’t go away in a contest in which neither team led by more than six points the entire second half.
Leading 80-77 in the closing 30 seconds, the Bulldogs left the door open a crack when Justin Wiersema missed the front end of a one-and-one. He quickly made amends on the ensuing possession by stealing the post feed to Mason Walters, putting the game on ice. A year earlier, Concordia felt like it let one get away at Jamestown in similar circumstances.
“We got off to a fantastic start and the game changed a little bit physically,” Limback said. “The free throw line kept them in it in the first half. Second half was kind of back and forth. They went on a spurt. Out of a timeout, I felt like we went back to how we started the game. Carter was really, really good and made amazing plays down the stretch for us. He made some great winning plays beyond the stat sheet and guarded their best guard on the other end. Tristan Smith was huge off the bench and I thought AJ Watson was really good.”
Kent went 8-for-15 from the floor (8-for-8 from the foul line) while reaching the 20-point mark for the seventh time this season. Watson had already reached double figures less than seven minutes into the game and finished with 16 points (7-for-14 from the floor). Tristin Smith collected 10 points off the bench and Wiersema contributed nine points, three assists and three steals. Super seniors Ryan Holt and Sam Scarpelli chipped in with six points each as the Bulldogs shot 48.4 percent (30-for-62) from the floor.
Concordia won despite the usual eye-popping numbers from Jimmie star Mason Walters, who totaled 32 points and 14 rebounds. The Bulldogs combated his performance by surrendering only three treys and by competing much better on the boards, as compared to the first meeting with Jamestown (16-5, 6-5 GPAC). This time around, the Jimmies had only a 37-34 rebound advantage.
Said Limback, “I was really proud of our guys for hanging in there with the game plan. We didn’t shoot well from three in the second half, which made it tougher … What a steal by Justin there at the end. We’re fortunate to get a win on the road.”
The Bulldogs will get another crack at Morningside (10-6, 7-4 GPAC) on Wednesday when the two sides square off at 7:45 p.m. CT from Friedrich Arena. Back on Dec. 1, the Mustangs edged Concordia, 79-77, in Sioux City, Iowa. Morningside has won each of the past 12 meetings with the Bulldogs and will be aiming to rebound from a 72-71 overtime loss to Doane at the buzzer on Saturday.
Kent eclipses milestone, Bulldogs solve Morningside puzzle
Jan. 19, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – The current group of four- and five-year players have checked off so many boxes during their careers with Concordia University Men’s Basketball. At long last, the 25th-ranked Bulldogs have conquered Morningside. Carter Kent and company shot 59.6 percent from the floor on Wednesday (Jan. 19) while exerting control of the action in an 83-68 victory over the visiting Mustangs.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad boosted the program home win streak to 14 while pushing the overall season record to 17-4 (10-3 GPAC). Every opposing GPAC men’s basketball program has now dropped its most recent trip to Friedrich Arena.
“I was pleased with how we started the game and our energy throughout the game,” Limback said. “Carter continues to be huge. I thought Gage (Smith) was really good today and Justin (Wiersema) hit some big shots for us. Certainly defensively is where we hung our hat tonight. They shook it up by playing a small lineup (in Trey Brown’s absence), pressing and doing different things. I thought we did a good job of playing through that.”
This was an important hurdle for Concordia, which had not beaten Morningside in any of the previous 12 meetings. Down one of the league’s best big men, the Mustangs showed resilience in shaking off a rough start, but the Bulldogs were in control for the vast majority of the night. With Kent and Smith both reaching the 20-point mark, Concordia built a lead as large as 21 (60-39) in the middle of the second half and put it on cruise control. Morningside couldn’t muster much offensively outside of Aidan Vanderloo’s 20 points.
It didn’t take long for Kent to reach a milestone. He entered the night needing three points for 1,500 in his career and collected a game high 25 points on 7-for-15 shooting from the floor (8-for-10 from the foul line). Smith backed him up with a double-double (20 points and 11 rebounds) and Wiersema was good for his usual end-to-end tenacity. He posted 13 points, five rebounds and three assists.
It didn’t matter that the Bulldogs had just come off the high of an 82-79 win at No. 11 Jamestown, they were going to be ready for this one. Said Smith, “Since I’ve been here we hadn’t beaten Morningside, so this one felt really good. The bond we have with each other is unbreakable. I’ve never been part of a team like this. We love each other and trust each other. We play together – and that’s Concordia Basketball.”
Morningside (10-7, 7-5 GPAC) had just come off a 72-71 overtime loss to Doane and has gone 3-6 since a 7-1 start. The Mustangs still have a dangerous team with plenty of veterans used to winning. The Bulldogs limited the potent visitors to 39.1 percent (27-for-69) shooting from the floor. Vanderloo and Trey Powers (11) were the only Morningside players to reach double figures.
In addition to shooting it well, Concordia held a 41-27 advantage on the boards. The only real negative was a minus-nine turnover margin. AJ Watson chipped in with eight points, six assists and six rebounds. Off the bench, Garrett Seagren made all three attempts from the floor and notched six points.
“There’s no rest right now, and I think our guys are ready for these,” Limback said. “We wanted these games. Now is when we start to see some of our young guys emerge – Tristan (Smith) was good tonight. They’re ready to go to Orange City.”
The aim now is to come away with an impressive GPAC road win for the second weekend in a row. The Bulldogs will be at Northwestern (16-6, 8-4 GPAC) for a 3:45 p.m. CT tipoff in Orange City, Iowa, on Saturday. Concordia won this season’s first meeting, 95-78, on Dec. 4 and moved its series win streak to six over the Red Raiders. On Wednesday, Northwestern fell at Briar Cliff, 81-69.
Close-knit senior class about winning in all aspects
Jan. 20, 2022
Enjoy it before it’s too late. The number of games left is dwindling for a senior class that has earned the right to be celebrated, lauded and thanked. Not only has this group of four-year student-athletes paved the way for the most successful four-year on-court run during Head Coach Ben Limback’s tenure, it has also represented exactly what Bulldog Basketball aspires to be.
Christian character. Toughness. Resilience. Class acts. Servant leaders. High academic achievers. Winners. That’s the legacy the seniors will leave behind, no matter the results the remainder of the 2021-22 season.
Limback and his staff hit home runs, even if they didn’t know it at the time, when in the fall of 2018 they welcomed in future standouts Carter Kent, Gage Smith, Klay Uher and Justin Wiersema along with the likes of key contributors Nick Cito and Tanner Wubbels. Each of them has had a role in elevating the program to heights it hadn’t reached in many years.
Said Limback prior to the season, “It’s a true blessing to have your most talented players also be your guys that are the hardest working. They have a hunger each day to get better and that sets the tone. They come in and they know we didn’t do what we wanted to do last year. There’s something to prove. Each one has individual goals, but they know ultimately, they want to help our team achieve success that maybe we’ve never had before. The entire class is special.”
The memories made over four years will be too thick for any one of them to ever brush away. Consider that this group has navigated through the most trying days of the COVID-19 era in collegiate athletics, celebrated a wild GPAC tournament title run in March of 2020, have competed intensely in road trip card games of “Pitch,” brought dominance back to CIT and made it an incredible chore for visitors to win in Friedrich Arena, all while playing with consistency and class. It’s a group that has never wavered in its commitment and resolve, no matter the circumstances.
There were certainly early signs that this collection of young men could take a hit and keep on coming. Kent and company were essential parts of a roster makeover heading into 2018-19. There were growing pains to be sure, but a 102-92 upset of seventh-ranked Briar Cliff in January of that season showed promise. Kent and Wiersema had already been inserted into the starting lineup and they responded with 26 and 15 points, respectively, in the victory. At one point in 2018-19, Concordia stood at 1-9 in conference play, but it wasn’t enough to deter a tough-minded bunch.
Says Kent, “I think that our senior class has brought a mentality of competing and working hard every day, which has been amazing to see throughout our time together here at Concordia. Ever since our freshman year, we have focused on bringing energy and effort each day, no matter where we were in the rankings or what happened the previous game. I think that we bring that effort each day, not for ourselves, but because of how much we care for each other and want the group as a whole to succeed.”
The key pieces of the class were assembled by Limback and former lead assistant coach Lance Korrell. They didn’t have to go far to find Kent and Uher, Crete High School teammates who have been friends since childhood. Meanwhile, Smith and Wiersema ventured to Seward via Colorado after watching older teammates and friends choose Concordia. The studious Kent cited the campus atmosphere and academics as major resasons for his decision. A First Team All-GPAC performer last season, Wiersema did not even visit another college before settling on the Bulldogs.
This was ‘their’ college, and once they made that decision, they were all in. Some of the challenges that were presented to them as freshmen and the obstacles brought about by COVID-19 only served to strengthen the group.
Said Uher, “I'm most proud of our persistence and ability to get through things together. We came in our freshman year and didn't have the season any of us wanted to have. We talked about being first in the conference and the national tournament a lot, but at that time it wasn't feasible. Through countless workouts, shooting sessions and practices over the years, we have worked hard enough to put ourselves in a position to make those things come to fruition.”
Things came together quite nicely in year two. As Smith says, he and his teammates “constantly talk about winning the GPAC tournament” as they did in March of 2020. In those simpler, pre-pandemic days, the Bulldogs enjoyed a breakthrough while edging 11th-ranked Dakota Wesleyan, 68-66, in the GPAC tournament final. Concordia found a way to get it done inside a raucous and hostile environment at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D. Such a major turnaround from the previous season would not have been possible if not for the right mix of resilient players, which included star upperclassmen in Tanner Shuck and Brevin Sloup.
The momentous win put the program in the national tournament for the first time since 2005 and allowed members of the 2019-20 squad to realize a dream. Hopes are high for more thrills this 2021-22 season, but it will be hard for any singular game to top what occurred two years ago.
Recalls Kent, “It was such a fun environment to play in and we had gone through a lot of hard work during that season to get to that point. Seeing all the work pay off and being able to experience that together as a team was definitely something that I won't forget. That is what college basketball is all about.”
As of mid-January, the picture is still coming into focus in terms of the GPAC regular season title race, but the Bulldogs have emerged as one of the prime contenders. The list of accomplishments for this class includes a 73-39 four-year record, in addition to a GPAC tournament title and national tournament appearance, and recognition as an NAIA top 25 team in back-to-back polls. When Concordia landed at No. 23 on Dec. 15, the program achieved its first national ranking since the 2010-11 season.
Because of where things stood just a few winters ago, the Bulldogs have had to earn every ounce of respect they have gotten. Still, the underdog role fits them. Said Wiersema, “To be a part of this team has meant the world to me these last four years. We started out at the bottom of the GPAC and just believed in each other and eventually started to see results that gave us confidence to do the things we did and eventually get here. Ultimately, it feels pretty satisfying to develop like we have and come out our senior year and really try to prove something.”
Undoubtedly, Concordia has played with an edge to it over the past four seasons. Never are the Bulldogs expected to reign atop the conference, but that’s why they wanted it so bad in 2020 and why they want it even more now. The official team themes of the past few seasons personify who they are – “Stay Hungry,” “Win The Day” and “All In.” They haven’t just talked about such things, they’ve lived them.
“I'm proud to be part of a group of guys that have had to fight through a lot of adversity over the years to become the successful team we are today,” Smith said. “Our group of guys have that ‘no quit’ mentality and I'm proud of our senior class always showing up for each other.”
Broken down individually, each piece of the senior class brings unique talents and skillsets to the table. Kent has flourished in a big way this season, averaging 17.6 points per game while cracking the top 10 on the program’s all-time scoring list. Smith and Wiersema have both become known for their nonstop motors. Wiersema’s game has taken off as he rose to First Team All-GPAC status last season. As for Smith, he broke through in 2020-21 as one of the GPAC’s most improved players. At a moment’s notice, Uher can step in and start as he did in this season’s first two games (17 points in the win over Presentation). In addition, Cito and Wubbels have been supportive leaders and positive contributors.
Understandably, Limback will have a difficult time saying goodbye. Senior day may just be a bit more emotional in 2022. There will also be the goodbyes said to ‘super seniors’ Ryan Holt and Sam Scarpelli, who have also had a hand in the program’s success. Just a few short years ago, the group was trying to find its way as freshmen.
“This group really took everything in stride,” Limback said. “Carter was the GPAC freshman of the year, but all those guys were instrumental in raising the level of the program. This year they wanted to do really, really big things. That first year we were just trying to get in the conference tournament. This year we want to have a chance to win the league. There’s a reason why they’re in this position. They bought in for four years. The culture has been established because of their level of commitment. I already know the banquet and the last game is going to be a tough deal for me as a head coach.”
Years from now, Limback will be able to continue to look upon the group like a proud father. Upon graduation this May, Carter will head to vet school at the University of Nebraska, Gage will continue into the business world (or perhaps return for a fifth season), Klay will take on a full-time role with Northwestern Mutual and Justin plans to attend nursing school back in Colorado.
They will head into the world and make a difference, just like they did here at Concordia. But no matter where they go, they won’t forget these last four years spent with some of the best friends they’ll ever have, making some of the best memories they’ll ever forge. They can be proud, knowing they did it by winning in all aspects.
Explained Kent, “I am most proud of this team because every guy in the room is a great person. They are great basketball players and very talented, but I am most proud of how we get along as a team and how we always enjoy being around each other. Anywhere that we are at is a great time just because the guys are so much fun to be around.”
Added Limback, “They’re all ready to launch and make that next step, whether it’s starting a real estate business or going to med school. They’re all ready to make an impact. It’s going to be bittersweet. They have more to their lives than just basketball. I’m proud to be able to coach them.”
No. 25 Bulldogs trumped on the road by Northwestern star power
Jan. 22, 2022
ORANGE CITY, Iowa – It was one of those days on the road within the GPAC. Big man Alex Van Kalsbeek went wild for 35 points against a Concordia University Men’s Basketball team that allowed season highs for points and opponent field goal percentage (.596). Northwestern used its offensive proficiency in claiming a 92-77 victory over the Bulldogs on Saturday (Jan. 22).
The result snapped what had been a six-game series win streak versus the Red Raiders. Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad fell to 17-5 overall (10-4 GPAC). Concordia is now two losses behind first-place Briar Cliff (10-2 GPAC).
“Their big guy really had a good game – he got to the free throw line and finished at the rim,” Limback said. “We didn’t have an answer for him. I didn’t think we had the best effort defensively, but they have some really talented guys. We knew coming in that it was a big game for both sides. They wanted it more today.”
The game got away from the Bulldogs when Northwestern went on a 16-4 run that pushed its lead to 72-56 midway through the second half. With the likes of Van Kalsbeek and Trent Hillbrands feasting on the offensive end, the Red Raiders maintained a double-digit lead for the remainder of the contest. The work of Van Kalsbeek on the interior helped open it up on the perimeter for Hillbrands to drain four 3-point field goals and pile up 19 points.
Most opponents have struggled this season at the Bultman Center, where Northwestern is 11-1. Thanks to a big first half from Noah Schutte, Concordia hung within five (46-41) at the break on Saturday. Schutte posted 13 of his 17 points in the first 20 minutes. Meanwhile, the Red Raiders managed to limit Carter Kent to four points in the first half. He got going after the intermission and finished with a team high 19 points (8-for-8 from the foul line). Despite foul trouble, Gage Smith collected 16 points and seven rebounds. Point guard AJ Watson chipped in 11 points and four rebounds.
None of that production could overcome Northwestern shooting 71.4 percent from the floor (15-for-21) in the second half. Van Kalsbeek made 14-of-19 on his field goal attempts. He and Hillbrands were joined in double figures by teammates Matt Onken (16) and Grant DeMeulenaere (12). The Red Raiders finished with a slight advantage on the boards, 34-30, in a contest that featured eight turnovers apiece. Northwestern (17-6, 9-4 GPAC) stands just a half-game behind Concordia in the standings.
Added Limback, “Defensively, we didn’t do enough to disrupt their rhythm. Offensively, we didn’t shoot well enough to offset what they were able to do tonight. We can’t let it affect the next game.”
While the Bulldogs have gone 7-0 in GPAC home games (all victories by double digits), they are now 3-4 in conference road games. A week ago, Concordia edged out No. 11 Jamestown, 82-79, in North Dakota. The season profile does include a solid nonconference road win at Ottawa University (Kan.).
The Bulldogs will return home on Wednesday to host Hastings (6-16, 1-11 GPAC) with tipoff set for 7:45 p.m. CT from Friedrich Arena. Concordia has had the Broncos’ number, winning each of the past 12 meetings between the two rivals. In the first matchup this season, the Bulldogs earned an 81-66 road win after having trailed at halftime on Dec. 11.
Smith, dominant first half trigger 15th-straight home win
Jan. 26, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Men’s Basketball team dominated the first half and then had a wakeup call in the second on Wednesday night (Jan. 26). After being up 19 points on visiting Hastings at halftime, the Concordia lead was cut to single digits late in the game. Ultimately the Bulldogs were able to prevail, winning by a final score of 82-68. Along with picking up its 11th conference win of the season, Concordia kept a 15-game home winning streak intact.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad improves to 18-5 overall and 11-4 in conference play. Coach Limback, had hoped for a more concentrated second half, but he was happy that his team found a way to come away with a victory.
“I give [Hastings] a lot of credit – they wanted to play in the second half and we challenged our guys,” Limback said, “Even at the end of the first half I thought we got a little complacent. Honestly, offensively we weren’t making some shots, but I was really disappointed in our defense. They’ve got good players. First half they were missing some wide-open shots and I thought we got bored and lost interest in the game, which is unacceptable. We talked about it. It’s nice to learn lessons when you win but we want to be a team that plays our best at the right time.”
In the absence of Justin Wiersema, Gage Smith took over the scoring for the Bulldogs. He secured a double-double with 28 points and 11 rebounds. Noah Schutte also had a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. AJ Watson found himself in double figures at the end of the night with 13 points while also grabbing six rebounds. Carter Kent added eight points and four assists.
Said Limback, “They [Smith & Schutte] finished down the stretch. We turned it on and that’s the goal to find that offensive urgency and defensive intensity all the way through.”
The Bulldogs shot a respectable 43.5 percent (30-for-69) from the field compared to Hastings’ 37.5 percent. Concordia also shot 33.3 percent from behind the three-point arc in the contest. The Bulldogs managed to win the rebounding battle as well, outmuscling the Broncos 46-35.
Hastings falls to 6-17 overall (1-12 GPAC) with the loss. Dashawn Walker led the Broncos in scoring with 20 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Karson Ganesbom and Zach Rust were the only other major contributors for Hastings – Gansebom with 18 points and Rust with 17 points and five rebounds.
Concordia will have this upcoming weekend off after the cancellation of the Concordia Invitational Tournament for the second consecutive year. Coach Limback expects his team to bring the intensity to practice during the time off from game action.
“We’ve got to have a better practice intensity and the guys even mentioned that before the coaches got in there,” Limback said. “Our leaders know that. We’ve got to put the pedal to the metal now. We can't just talk about it, we have to do the work. I know these guys will bounce back and be ready tomorrow and the next day.”
Concordia won’t be back in action until Wednesday (Feb. 2). Concordia will go on the road to face Midland (14-10, 5-9 GPAC) on Wednesday. The two teams last met in November when the Bulldogs came away with the victory, 82-68. Tipoff is set for 7:45 p.m. CT from Fremont, Neb.
Weekend bye leads into matchups with Midland, Dordt
Jan. 31, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – The month of February takes on significant meaning for the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team, which finds itself one half-game behind Briar Cliff atop the league standings. The Bulldogs had an opportunity to refresh this past weekend after having defeated Hastings at home, 82-68, on Jan. 26. Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad went 5-2 during the month of January while remaining as a prime contender for the GPAC regular season title. Concordia enters the week at 18-5 overall and at 11-4 in league play.
This Week
Wednesday, Feb. 2 at Midland (14-11, 5-10 GPAC), 7:45 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Feb. 5 vs. Dordt (16-7, 8-6 GPAC), 3:45 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats | 104.9 Max Country
By the numbers
· The Bulldogs got some help over the weekend with Dakota Wesleyan pulling the home upset of No. 25 Briar Cliff, 75-68. That defeat snapped a nine-game win streak for the Chargers, who vaulted into the NAIA top 25 poll last week. As for Concordia, the 92-77 loss at Northwestern on Jan. 22 was enough to knock it out of the top 25. The Bulldogs were listed as the second team in the “others receiving votes” category of last week’s poll. While Briar Cliff and Concordia are the current frontrunners in the GPAC, Morningside (9-5), Jamestown (9-6), Northwestern (9-6) and Dordt (8-6) are hanging close behind. As for Wednesday’s foe, Midland (5-10 GPAC), it needs wins down the stretch in order to have a shot to qualify for the eight-team GPAC tournament.
· In last week’s lone outing, the Bulldogs mounted a 40-14 lead over Hastings in what seemed to be shaping up as a runaway victory. Despite their struggles this season, the Broncos (6-18, 1-13 GPAC) showed fight by clawing all the way back within four (65-61) with more than four-and-a-half minutes still remaining. That surge by Hastings served as a wakeup call for Concordia, which got a big performance from Gage Smith (28 points and 11 rebounds). Smith notched the 13th double-double of his collegiate career. Noah Schutte (16 points and 11 rebounds) also turned in a double-double and AJ Watson added 13 points and six rebounds. With Justin Wiersema sidelined, senior Ryan Holt (five points and four assists) got the start.
· The home win streak has moved to 15 (27-1 in last 28 home games) after the victory over Hastings. Every opposing GPAC men’s basketball program has dropped its most recent trip to Seward. During the 15-game home win streak, the Bulldogs have won 14 of those contests by double-digit margins. Furthermore, Concordia has won each of its last 12 GPAC home games by 10 points or more. In 11 home games this season, the Bulldogs have won by an average score of 83.2 to 69.2 and have shot 51.1 percent from the floor. Also noteworthy, Concordia has made more free throws (154) and its opponents have attempted (131) in games played inside Friedrich Arena.
· To this point in the conference season, Concordia has played a more challenging GPAC slate than Briar Cliff. That means things will flip down the stretch as the Chargers still have to play at Morningside, host Jamestown and visit the Bulldogs. In conference games only, Concordia has been the highest scoring team in league play at 78.9 points per game. The Bulldogs have also allowed the fourth fewest points in GPAC games (71.9), giving them the best scoring differential (+7.0) of any team in the conference. Among GPAC teams, Concordia ranks third in field goal percentage defense (.435) and fifth in field goal percentage offense (.486).
· Carter Kent actually took more of a secondary scoring role in the win over Hastings. He finished with eight points, pushing his career total to 1,549. Kent is beginning to close in on former teammate Tanner Shuck (1,579) for eighth place on the program’s all-time scoring list. Kent graduated from Crete High School as its all-time leading scorer with 1,215 points. Between high school and college, Kent has produced a combined 2,764 points. Among GPAC players, Kent ranks sixth this season in scoring average (17.6). He’s been an efficient scorer, shooting 45.5 percent from the field, 39.2 percent from 3-point range and 87.4 percent from the foul line.
· Due to key players missing games here and there, Kent is the lone Bulldog to have started all 23 contests this season. Kent has been Concordia’s version of an iron man with him having started 113 of 114 Bulldog games over the past four seasons. He’s also logging a team high 35.0 minutes per game. In addition, Wiersema has been counted upon to play 32.4 minutes per game. Concordia very nearly has all five starters averaging in double figures in scoring: Kent (17.6), Gage Smith (13.4), Noah Schutte (13.2), Wiersema (11.8) and AJ Watson (9.8).
The opponents
In early January, Midland sat at 14-4 overall (5-3 GPAC) and appeared to be one of the more improved teams in the GPAC. Since then, the Warriors have suffered seven losses in a row, including three by margins of three points or less. Head Coach Oliver Drake’s squad owns a home win over Northwestern and a road victory over Briar Cliff to its credit. Midland boasts two especially prolific scorers in Laurence Merritt (18.1) and Bo Sandquist (16.1). In conference games only, the Warriors sport GPAC ranks of seventh in scoring offense (72.5) and eighth in scoring defense (74.9). The Bulldogs own a six-game series win streak over Midland.
Dordt could still be a factor in the GPAC title race if it can continue in February where it left off in January – with three-straight GPAC wins. It won’t be an easy road for the Defenders, who still have trips left to Concordia, Northwestern and Jamestown. Head Coach Brian Van Haaften’s squad can light it up offensively. It sports NAIA national rankings of ninth in field goal percentage (.500) and 30th in scoring offense (82.5). The most potent components that fuel the Dordt offensive attack are Bryce Coppock (18.9) and Jacob Vis (15.9). However, Vis has missed the past three games. Back on Nov. 20, the Bulldogs eked out an 84-82, win in Sioux Center, Iowa, that could have easily gone the other way.
Next week
Concordia will play just once next week – Feb. 9 at Doane. The Bulldogs will then have another weekend off before a major showdown with Briar Cliff coming up on Feb. 16.
Offensive firepower keys season sweep of Midland
Feb. 2, 2022
FREMONT, Neb. – A quartet of Bulldogs netted 15 points or more apiece in an offensive-oriented Wednesday (Feb. 2) evening clash in Fremont, Neb. The Concordia University Men’s Basketball team packed its shooting touch on the road and outgunned Midland, 92-87, inside the Wikert Event Center. In the process, the Bulldogs earned a season sweep of the Warriors while picking up their fourth GPAC road win.
Every league game has heightened meaning this February as Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad remains right on the heels of Briar Cliff (12-3 GPAC) at the top of the league standings. Concordia bumped its overall record to 19-5 (12-4 GPAC).
“I thought we came out really aggressive, really hungry in that first five or six minutes,” Limback said. “Justin Wiersema was unbelievable tonight at both ends. Down the stretch we didn’t play with as much aggressiveness, but Midland is a good basketball team. They can really shoot it. I thought we locked in most of the night. We made some careless mistakes mentally the last five minutes, but it was a great road win for us.”
Midland had no response for the fearsome foursome of Carter Kent, Justin Wiersema, Noah Schutte and Gage Smith, which combined for 68 points in an offensive clinic. The Bulldogs shot a smoldering 61.0 percent (36-for-59) from the floor. Only trouble was that Midland was on its game on its own offensive end. Fueled by 20 points from Bo Sandquist, the Warriors sizzled their way to 55.2 percent (32-for-58) shooting.
In Limback’s eyes, this one got more interesting than it needed to be. Concordia built the lead up to 18 (70-52) with just over 13 minutes remaining in the game. The advantage hovered in double digits all the way until the last 70 seconds. Sandquist drew a foul while shooting a trey with :31 left and made all three free throws for the game’s final tallies. The Bulldogs had done enough to extend their series win streak to seven over Midland.
“On the road this time of year, there’s a lot riding on this game,” Limback said. “I think the guys felt that at the end. We have to be ready for a battle at home now. We still have a lot of work to be done. I was really proud of our practices on Monday and Tuesday. That’s where it starts is mentally. We have to stay active and engaged. This team knows what’s going on. They’re senior heavy and they believe in each other.”
Because he missed last week’s win over Hastings, Wiersema hadn’t played since Jan. 22. He showed no rust in racking up 10 points less than six minutes into Wednesday night's contest. He finished with a game high 21 points to go along with four assists. Meanwhile, Kent notched 17 points and three steals while Schutte and Smith both turned in exactly 15 points and five rebounds. AJ Watson chipped in eight points and Ryan Holt led the reserves with six. Midland never did own a lead on a night that saw Concordia in control for the most part.
The Warriors (14-12, 5-11 GPAC) have dropped eight in a row, including three by three points or less. Midland put five players in double figures against the Bulldogs. The host team fell despite making 17-of-22 from the foul line and committing only seven turnovers.
The Bulldogs will take aim at a regular season sweep of Dordt (17-7, 9-6 GPAC) on Saturday when the two sides meet at 3:45 p.m. CT inside Friedrich Arena. The first matchup went down to the wire in Sioux Center, Iowa, where Concordia escaped with an 84-82 victory on Nov. 20. On Wednesday evening, the Defenders eked out a 75-74 home win over Morningside.
Home dominance continues in 3-point flurry
Feb. 5, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – A tight first half gave way to another dominant home win for a Concordia University Men’s Basketball team on a mission. The Bulldogs netted 10 treys in the second half while speeding away from Dordt for a 92-62 rout on Saturday (Feb. 5). Seven Concordia players poured in eight points or more in completing a prolific offensive week.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s program has moved the home win streak to 16 – each of the last 13 conference home affairs have resulted in victories by double-digit margins. The program has reached the 20-win mark for the third time under Limback. The Bulldogs stand at 20-5 overall (13-4 GPAC).
“First half, I thought Dordt was really clogging the paint and going under a lot of stuff,” Limback said. “The message at halftime was just to be resilient and stick with it. We shot 52 percent from three in the second half. Sam Scarpelli off the bench gave us a nice lift. Tristan Smith had a solid game off the bench too … Little plays kept us going. I thought the player of the game was AJ Watson. Defensively, he held their lead guard to one point. I felt like we stirred the drink constantly in that second half.”
The second half was a white washing. By the time you returned from grabbing popcorn, Concordia had built a commanding lead. The key spurts were included an 8-0 run that provided a 50-41 lead and then a 14-5 run that made it 77-55 with 8:15 remaining in the contest. The Defenders gave the Bulldogs space to build a condo on the perimeter. Concordia treys rained in during the second half at the 10:02 mark (Garrett Seagren), the 9:16 mark (Scarpelli), the 8:33 mark (Tristan Smith) and the 8:15 mark (Scarpelli).
Watson was the straw that stirred the drink. He collected 11 points, eight assists and six rebounds (only one turnover) and stuck to Dordt’s Luke Rankin (one point, four turnovers) like glue. Watson was one of six Bulldog double-figure scorers. The others were Noah Schutte (18), Tristan Smith (14), Scarpelli (11), Justin Wiersema (11) and Gage Smith (10). The latter notched another double-double while hauling down 12 rebounds. Carter Kent posted eight points and three assists.
“Early in the season we had a few losses that maybe we shouldn’t have had, but we just try to look forward and take it game-by-game,” Watson said. “We don’t look at the rankings and stuff like that. We try to focus on who we are. We trust each other, we love each other and we hold each other accountable. That’s how we stay focused.”
Concordia put up the exact same point total that it had three days earlier in the win at Midland. This time, the Bulldogs got to that number by draining 17-of-43 (.395) attempts from long range. Nine Concordia players knocked down at least one trey. Joel Baker helped put the cherry on top with one of his own in the final minutes. Tristan Smith made all six of his attempts from the floor in a starring effort off the bench. In addition, the Bulldogs held a 40-29 rebound advantage and were plus-two in turnovers.
Said Limback, “This is a really good basketball team we beat today. I felt like our defense led to our offense during that big run where we went from a five- to a 20-point lead. I’m really proud of the way the guys locked in and turned up the intensity.”
Dordt (17-8, 9-7 GPAC) shot 40.4 percent from the floor and got a team high 15 points from Cade Bleeker. Concordia won this season’s meeting in Sioux Center, Iowa, 84-82.
In the only outing of next week, the Bulldogs will be at Doane (15-11, 8-8 GPAC) on Wednesday for a 7:45 p.m. CT tipoff inside the Haddix Center. In this season’s first matchup, Concordia won a defensive New Year’s Day battle, 60-50, over the Tigers. On Saturday, Doane was clipped in overtime, 84-83, by Northwestern.
Rivalry matchup with Doane set for Wednesday
Feb. 7, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – Coming off a 2-0 week within the GPAC, the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team can put its sole focus on Wednesday’s matchup at Doane. Every game these days carries a great degree of significance with the Bulldogs residing one-half game behind Briar Cliff at the top of the league standings. In last week’s action, Concordia won at Midland, 92-87, and then blew out Dordt at home, 92-62. Those results leave Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad at 20-5 overall (13-4 GPAC). After playing in Crete on Wednesday, the Bulldogs will be idle the rest of the week.
This Week
Wednesday, Feb. 9 at Doane (15-11, 8-8 GPAC), 7:45 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | 104.9 Max Country
By the numbers
· With two weeks to go in the regular season, it appears that the GPAC regular season title chase will come down to Concordia and Briar Cliff (13-3 GPAC). Jamestown (11-6 GPAC) and Northwestern (10-6 GPAC) will need a lot to happen for a chance to even share the conference crown. Because the Bulldogs host the Chargers on Feb. 16, they control their own destiny in terms of earning at least a share for a GPAC regular season title. Concordia last won a conference regular season championship in 1995-96 when it was a member of the Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference. Meanwhile, Briar Cliff is looking for its first GPAC regular season title since 2016-17. The Bulldogs celebrated GPAC tournament titles in 2003, 2005 and 2020.
· Under Limback, the Bulldogs have reached the 20-win mark for the third time. Limback guided the 2016-17 squad to a 21-10 mark and the 2019-20 GPAC postseason championship team to a 24-10 record. The 24 wins in 2019-20 were the most for the program since the 2004-05 national runner up team set a new program single season standard with 32 victories. Going back throughout the GPAC era, Concordia also posted at least 20 wins in 2000-01 (20-13), 2002-03 (25-9) and 2003-04 (20-9). Were it not for the cancellation of CIT, the current Bulldogs may have put a couple more wins on the board by now. Limback’s record as head coach at CUNE now sits at 156-111.
· The Bulldogs shot the lights out last week in scoring exactly 92 points in both outings. Concordia made 36-of-59 (.610) attempts from the floor at Midland while being led by the 21-point outburst from Justin Wiersema. Additional double-figure scorers for the victors included Carter Kent (17), Noah Schutte (15) and Gage Smith (15). The final score was a bit misleading in that the Bulldogs held a double-digit lead for nearly the entire second half (largest lead of 18) before the Warriors made a late run. Midland did its best to keep up by shooting 55.2 percent from the floor. Bo Sandquist led the home team with 20 points.
· The clash with Dordt became a surprisingly one-sided affair after Concordia led by just two (39-37) at halftime. After the break, the Bulldogs drained 10 treys and put together separate runs of 8-0 and 14-5 that left the Defenders in the dust. Once again, offensive balance was a theme. Seven Concordia players scored at least eight points: Schutte (18), Tristan Smith (14), Sam Scarpelli (11), AJ Watson (11), Justin Wiersema (11) and Gage Smith (10). Watson added eight assists and six rebounds to his stat line and was referred to by Limback as the player of the game. The Bulldogs went 17-for-43 from 3-point range and shot 53.1 percent overall. Concordia also enjoyed a 40-29 advantage on the boards. Gage Smith collected 12 rebounds for a double-double.
· With 25 combined points last week, Kent’s career total has moved to 1,574. He remains in ninth place on the program’s all-time list but needs just six more to pass former teammate Tanner Shuck (1,579) for No. 8. Kent has played at an All-America level this season, averaging 17.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the floor, 37.6 percent from 3-point range and 85.1 percent from the foul line. The Crete High School alum has been named the Bulldog Athletic Association Athlete of the Month the past two months.
· Briar Cliff remained at No. 1 in the official GPAC rating released on Monday. However, it could certainly be argued that the Bulldogs are deserving of that perch. Concordia is currently the GPAC’s highest rated team in terms of the ratings percentage index (19th) and Massey Ratings (15th). In addition, the Bulldogs have a comfortable lead among league teams in scoring margin within conference play at plus-8.2. For comparison, Briar Cliff is plus-5.5 and Jamestown is plus-6.3. No GPAC team has been able to touch Concordia inside Friedrich Arena. The Bulldogs own a 16-game home win streak overall and have won each of their past 13 GPAC home games by double-digit margins.
The opponent
Doane has shown it can compete with just about anyone in the GPAC. The Tigers own road wins over Jamestown and Morningside and just narrowly lost at home, 84-83 in overtime, to Northwestern over the weekend. Head Coach Ian McKeithen’s squad boasts three players averaging more than 12 points per game: Josiah Gardiner (15.5), Anthony Laravie (13.8) and Alec Oberhauser (12.4). With 15 wins overall this season, Doane has made a big jump from last season when it went 6-19 overall. The Tigers are 8-5 at home this season. They will be attempting to snap a three-game series losing streak to Concordia. Back on New Year's Day, the Bulldogs defeated Doane, 60-50, in an unsightly game. The Tigers did not score over the game’s final six minutes.
Next week
In the final week of the regular season, Concordia will host No. 25 Briar Cliff on Feb. 16 and then travel to the Corn Palace to play Dakota Wesleyan on Feb. 19. Prior to next week’s showdown in Seward, the Chargers will play three games this week.
Bulldogs tripped up in road slugfest
Feb. 9, 2022
CRETE, Neb. – It was physical and it was ugly. In the end, the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team couldn’t pull out the grinder on the road. The Bulldogs shot just 32.8 percent from the floor in a 54-50 loss at Doane on Wednesday (Feb. 9). The defensive might of the Tigers held down a Concordia squad that had scored exactly 92 points in both of last week’s wins.
The path to a potential GPAC regular season title got a bit bumpier for Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad. With two games left in the regular season, the Bulldogs sit at 20-6 overall and at 13-5 in the conference.
“This team knows how to score – a lot of credit to Doane,” Limback said. “They guarded our action and they’re tough to score on. I felt like we were hesitant or we were forcing it. We just didn’t get a good balance. We didn’t shoot well – thankfully we defended well. You can’t go 5-for-12 from the free throw line and miss the shots we did. We have to crave these moments. We wanted it and the effort was there, but I feel like we just didn’t handle the big moments very well tonight.”
The matchups with Doane always seem to have this same feel to them. Concordia likes to get out and run in transition, but the Tigers just didn’t allow for that to happen in a slow-paced affair. Even so, the Bulldogs had their chances. They led by two (47-45) with less than three minutes remaining after Sam Scarpelli’s clutch trey. Doane responded with an 8-0 run that provided a 53-47 spread in the final minute. Concordia clawed back and had a shot to tie it on Scarpelli’s desperation 3-point attempt that came up short in the closing seconds.
It just didn’t look like Bulldog Basketball. Concordia mounted a 19-10 lead in the opening half before enduring a drought of more than seven minutes without a point. That dry spell gave the Tigers a chance to take a 24-21 lead to the halftime break. Doane was only slightly better on the offensive end as it shot 35.7 percent (20-for-56) from the floor. The heroes for the Tigers were the likes of Alec Oberhauser (19 points and 18 rebounds) and Josiah Gardiner (19 points and three blocks).
Both teams’ top backcourt scoring options struggled. For the Bulldogs, Carter Kent went 1-for-9 from the floor while Doane’s Anthony Laravie shot 1-for-15. Gage Smith led Concordia with 17 points (to go along with eight rebounds) in a hard-nosed effort in the paint. Noah Schutte turned in a double-double that featured 10 points and 11 rebounds. Scarpelli added nine points off the bench and Justin Wiersema notched six points, nine rebounds and four assists. Schutte and company won the rebound battle, 46-36.
The Bulldogs will wait a week until welcoming No. 22 Briar Cliff (17-8, 13-3 GPAC) to Friedrich Arena for a 7:45 p.m. CT tipoff next Wednesday (Feb. 16). With Concordia and Briar Cliff situated at the top of the standings, that contest could decide the GPAC regular season champion. The Bulldogs will be out to avenge their 65-48 loss at Briar Cliff back on Nov. 13.
Championship hopes carry into regular season's final week
Feb. 14, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – A lot may have to happen, but the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team still has hopes of sharing the GPAC regular season title. Only two games remain in the regular season as the Bulldogs look to put behind last week’s 54-50 downer at Doane. Head Coach Ben Limback’s program will honor a senior class of six student-athletes prior to tipoff with Briar Cliff on Wednesday. The regular season will then wrap up on Saturday with a trip to the Corn Palace. Concordia enters the week at 20-6 overall (13-5 GPAC).
This Week
Wednesday, Feb. 16 vs. No. 22 Briar Cliff (19-8, 15-3 GPAC), 7:45 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats | 104.9 Max Country
Saturday, Feb. 19 at Dakota Wesleyan (12-13, 9-9 GPAC), 5:45 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | 104.9 Max Country
By the numbers
· There’s only one path remaining for the Bulldogs to pull even with Briar Cliff (15-3 GPAC) in the final conference standings. Concordia must win twice this week and have the Chargers lose twice. Briar Cliff clinched at least a share of the title over the weekend when it defeated Hastings and Jamestown at home. The Chargers have won the regular season title for the second time in six seasons. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs continue to hunt for their first conference regular season championship since the 1995-96 campaign. Should Concordia fall short this regular season, it would then seek a GPAC postseason title as it celebrated in 2003, 2005 and 2020. A 14th GPAC win would effectively lock the Bulldogs into a top-two seed in the conference tournament.
· The loss at Doane was frustrating in many ways. The Tigers managed to dictate a slower tempo and Concordia shot only 32.8 percent (19-for-58) from the floor. Doane neutralized the starting Bulldog backcourt trio that combined to shoot 4-for-21 from the field. The top performers for Concordia were Gage Smith (17 points and eight rebounds) and Noah Schutte (10 points and 11 rebounds). On the other side, 19 points apiece from Josiah Gardiner and Alec Oberhauser were enough for Doane to eke out the win. The Bulldogs had one a similarly ugly game, 60-50, inside Friedrich Arena on New Year's Day. Concordia slipped to 4-5 in GPAC road games.
· A 2-0 week would push the Bulldogs to 15 GPAC wins and would break a program record for conference victories in a single season. The current school record of 14 conference wins is shared by the 2020-21 (14-6) and 2004-05 (14-4) teams. From a sheer winning percentage perspective, the 1994-95 team that went 11-1 in the Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference stands above the rest. Concordia also has a shot at its first top-two conference finish since that ’04-05 campaign that included a GPAC tournament title and run to the national championship game.
· Prior to tipoff on Wednesday inside Friedrich Arena, Coach Limback and the program will recognize the senior class. The fourth-year senior class includes Nick Cito, Carter Kent, Gage Smith, Klay Uher, Justin Wiersema and Tanner Wubbels. Over the past four years, those Bulldogs have helped the program to a combined record of 76-41 with a 2020 GPAC tournament title and national tournament appearance. They aided in piling up 24 wins during the 2019-20 campaign (a highwater mark for wins during Limback’s tenure). Both Kent and Wiersema are members of the program’s 1,000-point club. The program will also acknowledge the contributions of super seniors Ryan Holt and Sam Scarpelli. This is Holt’s fifth season as a member of the program. He has totaled 572 points and 337 rebounds as a Bulldog.
· Kent is on the verge of tracking down former teammate Tanner Shuck (1,579 career points) for eighth place on the program’s all-time scoring list. Kent enters the week with 1,577 career points. A big week could also allow him to leapfrog Matt List (1,608) for seventh all-time. Kent put together an impressive month of January that saw him average 19.4 points over seven games. He notched a career high 35 points at Mount Marty on Jan. 5 and then poured in 26 in the win at Jamestown and 25 in the home victory over Morningside. Over his career, Kent has also totaled 404 rebounds, 295 assists, 234 3-point field goals and 110 steals.
· Despite the loss to Doane, Concordia remains a virtual lock to reach the national tournament for the second time in three seasons. In the most recent ratings percentage index, the Bulldogs appeared at No. 19 and were ranked third in the North-Central region ratings. Those metrics are much more influential in regards to national tournament selection than the NAIA coaches’ poll. In the poll released last week, Concordia was list as the first team among others receiving votes. The Bulldogs have been ranked as high as No. 23 this season in the coaches’ poll. The No. 1 seed in the conference tournament receives an automatic bid to the national tournament. The GPAC is a two-auto bid league.
The opponents
At stake for Briar Cliff on Wednesday will be a chance to win the GPAC regular season title outright and put a blemish on Concordia’s spotless home record. Expectations for the Chargers were not high from an outsider’s perspective after they went 9-11 in GPAC play last season. Head Coach Mark Svagera’s squad has risen back to the top of the GPAC with the help of a stingy defensive bunch that has allowed an average of only 67.9 points per game in conference play. After a hiccup out of conference last week (71-57 loss at Peru State College), Briar Cliff refocused and defeated Hastings, 75-53, and Jamestown, 78-64, this past weekend. A balanced team has been led by the 13.0 points per game from Kyle Boerhave.
Dakota Wesleyan has dipped in the standings this season, but it has shown an ability to knock off qualify opponents. The Tigers won at Briar Cliff on Jan. 29 and last week defeated Northwestern at home. DWU has been an arch nemesis of Concordia and ended the Bulldogs’ season in 2021 in the GPAC tournament quarterfinals. The Tigers will try to slow the pace. They average 69.1 points and allow 68.8 points per game this season. The team’s top two scoring options are in the frontcourt in Koln Oppold (14.6) and Jeffrey Schuch (11.1). Under Head Coach Matt Wilber, the program has been a national tournament regular.
Next week
GPAC tournament play will open on Feb. 23 with the quarterfinal round. Dates for the proceeding rounds are Feb. 26 for the semifinals and March 1 for the championship game. The highest seeds earn the right to host.
Kent-to-Smith buzzer beater sets Friedrich Arena ablaze in instant classic
Feb. 17, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – Shock, disbelief and pure joy were felt all at once as Tristan Smith’s game-winning layup beat the buzzer and sent Friedrich Arena into pandemonium. Smith finished the perfectly executed length-of-the-court heave from Carter Kent to lift Concordia University Men’s Basketball to a 74-73 win over 22nd-ranked Briar Cliff on Wednesday (Feb. 16). A wave of Bulldog students and fans engulfed Smith and his teammates in one of the wildest scenes in the arena’s history.
Afterwards, Head Coach Ben Limback and company were still struggling to process what had happened. With one second left, the Chargers’ Jaden Kleinhesselink nailed a go-ahead trey that had seemingly torn Concordia’s heart out.
But this was a night that featured the ultimate dejection-to-jubilation finish. Said Limback, “You can’t put that one into words. It was a great, great game all the way throughout. We got a little stagnant at the end offensively and they made some tough shots. Man, what a shot by Kleinhesselink to take the lead. Coming to the bench, the guys were defeated. They poured their hearts out.
“Carter made an unbelievable pass, Tristan made an unbelievable catch and now all the sudden you win. You go from losing a heartbreaker to winning.”
The final 15 seconds were great theater. The tough-minded Chargers made it more dramatic than mid-day television with an 11-0 run that knotted the score, 70-70. Finally, Kent pealed the lid off the basket by draining an elbow jumper with 10 seconds left. The 72-70 Bulldog lead was short-lived thanks to Kleinhesselink’s are-you-kidding-me, double-clutch deep trey with a defender draped all over him.
All that did was set the stage for an even more improbable, absolutely nutty finish. A former star high school baseball player, Kent shuffled the baseline to his left and whirled a 90-foot in-bounds toss so precise it would be nearly impossible to duplicate. The athletically gifted Smith did the rest.
Limback joked that the first thing he saw was AJ Watson wrapping him up in a bear hug. Kent tried to make some sense of the moment after the heartrate came back down. Said Kent, “Coach said when he drew it up, ‘You gotta throw it to Tristan.’ He’s like, ‘You gotta throw it all the way.’ I knew they were going to put a big man on the ball. I just threw it up there and hoped it was going to get there, and thankfully it did. It was pretty crazy. Tristan’s so athletic that he went up and got it.”
There was already a little more juice in the atmosphere with Briar Cliff (19-9, 15-4 GPAC) and Concordia (21-6, 14-5 GPAC) residing at the top of the GPAC standings. The only hope the Bulldogs had to still earn a share of the GPAC regular season title was to win on Wednesday. Concordia also wanted to keep its unblemished home record intact.
By night’s end, it was easy to forget that the Bulldogs had owned a 14-point lead with fewer than eight-and-a-half minutes to go. One of the six fourth-year seniors honored prior to tipoff, Gage Smith (Tristan’s older brother) had himself a night. Gage went off for 23 points and 17 rebounds (game highs in both categories). The efficiency of the Elizabeth, Colo., native was a major reason why Concordia shot 50 percent (28-for-56) from the floor. Kent also added 18 points (moved to No. 8 on the program’s all-time scoring list) while Justin Wiersema tallied 11 points and Watson chipped in 10.
It's just not easy to put the Chargers away. Kent and his fellow classmates remembered when Briar Cliff’s Nick Hoyt made a buzzer beating game-winner at Friedrich Arena two years ago. The Chargers nearly pulled off a similar outcome while getting 16 points from Quinten Vasa and 15 apiece from Conner Groves and Quinn Vesey. That group showed its own toughness by holding the Bulldogs without a point for nearly six whole minutes during the 11-0 run that tied the game down the stretch.
Somehow, Concordia found a way. Said Kent, “That’s this group in a nutshell. We always keep working. We’ve faced adversity throughout our entire careers. I think it showed tonight where we get hit in the mouth and we get up and keep going. It’s pretty awesome to see on senior night for this to happen. Throughout our careers, we’ve been through a lot.”
Added Limback, “It was a special moment for our team and to be able to share that with Concordia fans and everybody here – it was truly amazing.”
The senior group that was recognized on Wednesday includes Nick Cito, Kent, Gage Smith, Klay Uher, Wiersema and Tanner Wubbels. The program also gave a shoutout to fifth-year members of the program in Ryan Holt and Sam Scarpelli. The latter contributed seven points off the bench.
The regular season will conclude on Saturday when the Bulldogs will be at the Corn Palace for a 5:45 p.m. CT matchup with Dakota Wesleyan (12-14, 9-10 GPAC). Concordia has clinched at least the No. 2 seed in the GPAC tournament and could still pull even with Briar Cliff for first place in the final standings. For that to happen, the Bulldogs need a win on Saturday and a Charger loss at Doane on Friday.
Wild finish catches the attention of SportsCenter
Feb. 18, 2022
An all-time classic moment that will go down in Concordia University Men’s Basketball lore caught the attention of ESPN’s SportsCenter. Tristan Smith’s game-winning layup via the full-court alley-oop from Carter Kent was featured on multiple editions of SportsCenter on Thursday (Feb. 17) evening. In nearly a minute of airtime, ESPN showcased the wild final 15 seconds that featured three lead changes, including the dramatic game winner.
The incredible 74-73 victory on Wednesday over Briar Cliff (a matchup of the top two teams in the GPAC standings) has been the talk of campus. As fifth-year senior guard Sam Scarpelli tweeted the following day, “Next day and I’m still having a hard time processing this actually happened.” Meanwhile, media personalities both far and wide weighed in on what had occurred. The consensus was that this was one of those rare instances in sports that deserves celebration.
For those who missed it, Concordia took a 72-70 lead with 10 seconds left on Carter Kent’s elbow jumper. On the ensuing possession, after a timeout, the Chargers regained the advantage on Jaden Kleinhesselink’s doule-clutch trey with just 1.0 second remaining. The Bulldogs called timeout and that’s when Head Coach Ben Limback instructed the left-handed Kent to fire a baseball pass to the rim and give Smith a chance to make a play. The pass was perfectly executed and Smith rose above a Briar Cliff defender and laid the ball of the glass, setting off a court storming inside Friedrich Arena.
Kent attempted to make sense of the play in the aftermath of the rush of excitement. Said Kent, “Coach said when he drew it up, ‘You gotta throw it to Tristan.’ He’s like, ‘You gotta throw it all the way.’ I knew they were going to put a big man on the ball. I just threw it up there and hoped it was going to get there, and thankfully it did. It was pretty crazy. Tristan’s so athletic that he went up and got it.”
Limback broke down the win, and that final play, in Thursday’s Bulldog Coaches Show on 104.9 Max Country. Said Limback, “It was an incredible game throughout. We take a two-point lead with 10 seconds left and they call timeout. They don’t get a good look but a wonderful clutch play by their guard with the double-clutch 3-pointer to take the lead. It was such a rollercoaster of emotions. Our guys come off the floor and they’re just dejected because of the shot the kid hit. We had to regroup and get our emotions back in order. We said, hey, there’s one second and we know Carter’s got a great arm and we know Tristan can jump. We put something together and the guys executed wonderfully. You have to have it perfect. Carter throws an unbelievable pass off his back leg like a quarterback coming out of the pocket and Tristan makes an unbelievable catch – then has the body control and court awareness to put it in. There was spectrum of emotions – raw enthusiasm and being awestruck where you just don’t know what to do. You’re in complete shock.
“Now in today’s world, you’ve got the phones that are videoing it. It’s been fun to see the execution side of things from a basketball sense and to also to see the thrill and the raw emotions of people there. It was senior night. I’m so thankful we got to share that moment with so many fans, alums and community members, people that have been around to support us over the years. God gives you amazing things. We gave Him a lot of glory after the game. To be able to have that moment and share it with so many people is an incredible blessing.”
The importance of the game was heightened by the fact that Concordia had to win to keep hopes alive of potentially sharing the GPAC regular season title. Entering the weekend, Briar Cliff (15-4 GPAC) holds a one-game lead over the Bulldogs (14-5 GPAC). The Chargers will play at Doane on Friday while Concordia will be at Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday to finish of the regular season.
Kent and his fellow classmates could not have asked for a more memorable senior night. It’s a group that helped lead the program to a GPAC tournament title in 2020 and has the Bulldogs on the cusp of another national tournament appearance this March. The class served a major role in building the program back up beginning in 2018-19 and pushing it towards the top of the conference standings.
Through adversity, they find ways to get it done. Added Kent on Wednesday, “That’s this group in a nutshell. We always keep working. We’ve faced adversity throughout our entire careers. I think it showed tonight where we get hit in the mouth and we get up and keep going. It’s pretty awesome to see on senior night for this to happen. Throughout our careers, we’ve been through a lot.”
The group of four-year seniors also includes Nick Cito, Gage Smith, Klay Uher, Justin Wiersema and Tanner Wubbels. Scarpelli and Ryan Holt are fifth-year seniors on the team. While his little brother Tristan made the game-winning basket, Gage had a big night of his own. He totaled 23 points and 17 rebounds. Kent finished with 18 points while Justin Wiersema added 11 and AJ Watson scored 10 points.
On Wednesday, Kent pushed his career point total to 1,595, surpassing former teammate Tanner Shuck for eighth place on the program’s all-time list. Next to pass on that list is Matt List with 1,608 points. If Kent get produced 65 or more points yet this season, he would jump all the way to No. 5 in school history.
Kent’s scoring total became a sidebar after the hectic finish that bumped Concordia’s home record to 13-0. Most of those victories came without late game theater – but not on Wednesday.
Said Limback, “You hate to see either team lose a game like that where there’s such an incredible emotional rollercoaster. Briar Cliff is a fantastic team. It was a very well-fought game on both ends. We’ve been on the other side. They hit one two years ago – a corner, 3-point buzzer beater where they got to rush the court on our home floor. We’ve all had those experiences. You just have to enjoy those times when you’re on the winning side. This was one of those fun moments that you can soak up and never forget.”
GPAC Semifinal Preview: Concordia hosts Doane with GPAC title spot on the line
Feb. 24, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – Two rivals will meet on Saturday with a spot in the GPAC tournament championship game on the line. The second-seeded Concordia University Men’s Basketball team is getting set to welcome sixth-seeded Doane to Friedrich Arena for a 3 p.m. CT tipoff on Saturday. The Bulldogs advanced to the semifinals via an 83-70 home win over Morningside on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, Doane went on the road and upset No. 3 seed Northwestern, 64-61. Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad owns an overall record of 23-6.
GPAC Semifinals
Saturday, Feb. 26 vs. Doane (19-12, 11-9 GPAC)
--Live Webcast/Stats | 104.9 Max Country
--Admission: $10 for adults/senior citizens, $3 for K-12; only those with NAIA passes and GPAC student ID’s will be admitted free of charge.
By the numbers
· Even when you think you have Concordia beat inside Friedrich Arena, you don’t. A week after the dramatic win at the buzzer over Briar Cliff, the Bulldogs made things easier on the ticker while controlling Wednesday’s GPAC quarterfinal clash with Morningside. Concordia went 15-for-33 (.455) from 3-point range and built a lead as large as 22 points. Three Bulldogs reached double figures in scoring, Carter Kent (17), Gage Smith (15) and Garrett Seagren (11), while Ryan Holt, Tristan Smith and AJ Watson contributed eight points apiece. Kent added six rebounds and six assists to his stat line. Reigning GPAC Player of the Week Gage Smith grabbed nine boards and dished out five assists. After having lost 12 straight series meetings to the Mustangs, Concordia has now won the past two matchups. The Bulldogs are also 14-0 at home this season and have won 18 consecutive home games dating back to last season.
· The coaches who vote in the official NAIA poll have made the co-GPAC regular season champion Bulldogs earn it. They finally moved back into the NAIA top 25 on Wednesday, landing at No. 23. The perception seems to be that the league is down because last season’s top teams, Morningside and Jamestown, fell back a bit in the GPAC standings. The computers have liked Concordia more than the humans. Currently, the Bulldogs are ranked 15th in the NAIA by Massey Ratings and appear at No. 16 in the official NAIA RPI. There are 234 teams included in NAIA men’s basketball. According to the RPI, Concordia owns top 100 wins over No. 22 Briar Cliff, No. 23 Jamestown (two), No. 34 Dordt (two), No. 38 Northwestern, No. 58 Morningside (two), No. 60 Peru State, No. 60 Benedictine (Kan.), No. 64 Ottawa (Kan.), No. 64 Rochester (Mich.), No. 66 Doane, No. 89 Midland (two) and No. 99 Dakota Wesleyan (two).
· In the win over Briar Cliff, Kent totaled 18 points in addition to the pass that had everyone buzzing. That outing pushed Kent to No. 8 on the program’s all-time scoring list as he surpassed former teammate Tanner Shuck (1,579). Then on Wednesday, Kent moved up another rung, leapfrogging Matt List (1,608) for seventh place in school history. With 1,624 career points, the Crete High School product has a shot at finishing in the top five all-time. Within range are No. 6 Rick Dietze (1,625) and No. 5 Devin Smith (1,659). Also last week, Kent was named a CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree for the third-straight year. Kent is the only player in program history with at least 1,600 points, 400 rebounds, 300 assists and 100 steals. In addition, Justin Wiersema now sports all-time program ranks of ninth in assists (291), 19th in rebounds (463) and tied for 20th in scoring (1,221).
· Not since the 1995-95 season had the program won a conference regular season title. Limback was a player on the ’95-96 squad that then Head Coach Grant Schmidt guided to an 11-1 mark within the Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference. In addition to ending that drought, the 2021-22 Bulldogs have broken the program record for conference wins in a single season with 15. The previous standard of 14 was held by the 2004-05 and 2020-21 squads. In terms of postseason success, the program has celebrated GPAC tournament titles in 2003, 2005 and 2020. The most recent Concordia team to sweep conference regular season and postseason championships in the same year was the 1994-95 squad that went 30-4 overall.
· A GPAC tournament title would allow the Bulldogs to leave no doubt as to who deserves the title of the league’s top dog. In the process of winning the GPAC tournament title, the 2020 team ended the program’s postseason dry spell, which saw it go from the 2009-10 through the 2018-19 seasons without winning a conference tournament game. The conference tournament run in 2020 included wins over Northwestern (home), 74-63, Hastings (home), 71-61, and Dakota Wesleyan (away), 68-66. Then last season, Concordia saw its campaign end with a 70-58 GPAC quarterfinal defeat at Dakota Wesleyan. Going back farther, the Bulldogs won GPAC tournament title games over Sioux Falls in 2005 and over Dordt in 2003.
The opponent
Doane is coming in hot having won three in a row and four of its last five. That stretch includes wins over each of the teams seeded one through three in the GPAC tournament. Saturday’s matchup will be a contrast of styles. Concordia would like to make it a track meet, while Doane will try to make it a slog once again. In the two regular season matchups, the Bulldogs won, 60-50, in Seward before the Tigers triumphed, 54-50, in Crete. Concordia’s scoring outputs against Doane were two of its three lowest all season. Head Coach Ian McKeithen’s squad has leaned upon a standout trio in Josiah Gardiner (15.3 ppg / 5.9 rpg), Anthony Laravie (more than 2,000 career points scored) and Alec Oberhauser (13.0 ppg / 8.7 rpg). Doane’s national tournament hopes could rest on the outcome on Saturday. The Tigers were placed ninth in the North-Central region in the most recent ARC rankings.
GPAC tournament pairings
Quarterfinals – Wednesday, Feb. 23
(8) Dakota Wesleyan def. (1) Briar Cliff, 85-77
(5) Jamestown def. (4) Dordt, 83-59
(6) Doane def. (3) Northwestern, 64-61
(2) Concordia def. (7) Morningside, 83-70
Semifinals – Saturday, Feb. 26
(8) Dakota Wesleyan at (5) Jamestown, 3 p.m.
(6) Doane at (2) Concordia, 3 p.m.
Championship – Tuesday, March 1
Highest seed hosts, 7 p.m.
Kent sinks game winner, pushes Bulldogs to GPAC title game
Feb. 26, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – With a spot in the GPAC championship game on the line, Friedrich Arena rocked and rolled as the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team continued a magical ride. Carter Kent’s mid-range jumper with 3.3 seconds left lifted the 23rd-ranked Bulldogs to a 67-65 win over Doane on Saturday (Feb. 26) afternoon. Concordia is headed to the GPAC final for the second time in three seasons after fending off a late 8-0 run by the Tigers.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad improved to 15-0 at home and experienced another on-court celebration along with a raucous student section. The Bulldogs are now 24-6 overall.
“It was two good teams that had a lot to play for,” Limback said. “I’m so proud of our guys – Carter hits that big shot at the end and Sam Scarpelli had that layup for us that was really important. Tristan (Smith) was really good off the bench too. Hats off to Doane. I thought they proved again that they’re one of the better defensive teams in the league.”
No full-court alley-oop was necessary, but this contest was more reminiscent of the wild win over Briar Cliff on Feb. 16 than it was the comfortable 83-70 victory over Morningside in the GPAC quarterfinals. In Saturday’s nail-biter, Doane star guard Anthony Laravie evened the score, 65-65, with an offensive rebound and putback in the final 30 seconds. On the ensuing possession, Kent let the clock run under five seconds before pulling the trigger on a difficult fade-away jumper from 15 feet over the reach of the Tigers’ Alec Oberhauser.
Doane still had one more chance, but the in-bounds pass was dropped and picked up by Kent, setting off another court rush by Concordia students. The Bulldogs had led nearly the entire way, but the Tigers made it uneasy for all 40 minutes.
Said Justin Wiersema, “This means the world to us. We knew we could get here. We’ve been practicing hard and we know what to do. We’re back in the championship game – it’s huge. We got it here next Tuesday, so that’s even bigger. We’re all super excited.”
Wiersema also gave a nod to the fans. Each of the past three home games have featured electric atmospheres. Tristan Smith helped power up the voltage to another level when he thunderously slammed down a put-back dunk in the first half. The human highlight reel Smith finished with nine points and six rebounds off the bench. Three Bulldogs reached double figures: Gage Smith (14), Kent (10) and Wiersema (10) while Noah Schutte (eight points and four rebounds) was within range. AJ Watson chipped in six points and two steals and Scarpelli collected five points.
Not since the 1994-95 season has the program won both conference regular season and postseason championships. The 2021-22 team will have the opportunity for a sweep.
“They’re excited,” Limback said. “That was a big goal for this team to try to get the regular season title and win the conference tournament. To be able to do it at home is great. This crowd was incredible. It’s going to be a big-time battle. We had a fun matchup with Jamestown here the first time at home. We’re going to have to bring our top game and be ready to play.”
Doane (19-13) certainly played at a national tournament level down the stretch having beaten Concordia recently as well as Briar Cliff and Northwestern. Laravie did his part in piling up 23 points on 9-for-18 shooting. Josiah Gardiner added 15 points and five rebounds and Oberhauser (11 points, 10 rebounds) notched a double-double. The Bulldogs won two of three meetings over the Tigers with both wins coming in Seward.
Doane slightly outshot Concordia (47.3 to 46.3 percent) and had an edge on the boards, 32-30. Turnovers were also nearly even (13-12) in a contest that fittingly went down to the wire.
As the highest remaining seed, the Bulldogs now have the honor of hosting the GPAC tournament championship game. The opponent will be Jamestown (24-8), who will be in Seward on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. CT tipoff. Concordia won both regular season meetings with victories coming by scores of 92-76 in Seward and 82-79 in Jamestown. The Bulldogs will seek their second GPAC tournament title in three seasons and fourth in program history. This will be the first time the program has hosted the GPAC championship game since 2005.
GPAC Championship Preview: Concordia versus Jamestown
Feb. 27, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – For the second time in three seasons, the Concordia University Men’s Basketball program has advanced to the GPAC tournament championship game. When the action tips off on Tuesday night, it will mark the first time the Bulldogs have hosted the conference final since 2005 and it will also be the first ever GPAC men’s basketball tournament championship game held inside Friedrich Arena. Head Coach Ben Limback will take his squad up against Jamestown, which has blown out its first two GPAC tournament foes. Concordia has reached this point with wins over Morningside, 83-70, in the quarterfinals and over Doane, 67-65, in the semifinals.
GPAC Championship Game
Tuesday March 1: Concordia (24-6, 15-5 GPAC) vs. Jamestown (24-8, 12-8 GPAC)
--Live Webcast/Stats | 104.9 Max Country
--Admission: $10 for adults/senior citizens, $3 for K-12; only those with NAIA passes and GPAC student ID’s will be admitted free of charge.
By the numbers
· A GPAC tournament title would allow the Bulldogs to leave no doubt as to who reigns supreme atop the conference. Concordia is getting set for its fifth conference championship game appearance during the GPAC era. Past advancements to the final came in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2020. In the process of winning the GPAC tournament title, the 2020 team ended the program’s postseason dry spell, which saw it go from the 2009-10 through the 2018-19 seasons without winning a conference tournament game. The conference tournament run in 2020 included wins over Northwestern (home), 74-63, Hastings (home), 71-61, and Dakota Wesleyan (away), 68-66. Then last season, Concordia saw its campaign end with a 70-58 GPAC quarterfinal defeat at Dakota Wesleyan. Going back farther, the Bulldogs won GPAC tournament title games over Sioux Falls, 62-58, in 2005 and over Dordt, 90-82, in 2003. Concordia lost the championship game at Northwestern, 91-83, in 2001.
· It wasn’t easy, but the Bulldogs got it done in the GPAC semifinals while outlasting Doane in front of one of the better atmospheres ever witnessed inside Friedrich Arena. A late 8-0 run by the Tigers made it a nail-biter in the final minute. Doane’s Anthony Laravie tied the game, 65-65, with less than 30 seconds remaining via an offensive rebound and layup. On the ensuing possession, Carter Kent let the clock dip below five seconds before pulling the trigger on a 15-foot fadeaway with a defender in his face. The shot went down with 3.3 seconds left. Doane had one last chance, but the in-bounds pass was dropped and picked up by Kent, who finished with 10 points and seven assists. Gage Smith produced 14 points, Justin Wiersema added 10 points and Tristan Smith posted nine points and six rebounds off the bench.
· Kent continues to climb the program’s all-time scoring list. With 10 points against Doane, he pushed his career total to 1,634. That moved him past Rick Dietze (1,625) for No. 6 among the top scorers in school history. With two games still guaranteed (counting at least one national tournament game), Kent appears poised to leapfrog Director of Athletics Devin Smith (1,659) for No. 5 on the list. Also named a CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree for the third-straight year, Kent is the only player in program history with at least 1,600 points, 400 rebounds, 300 assists and 100 steals. In addition, teammate Justin Wiersema now sports all-time program ranks of ninth in assists (291), tied for 18th in rebounds (466) and 19th in scoring (1,231).
· Through the first two rounds of the GPAC tournament, Gage Smith has led the team in scoring with 29 points while Kent is close behind with 27 points. Kent has also dished out a combined 13 assists over the past two outings. Off the bench, Tristan Smith has produced averages of 8.5 points and 7.0 rebounds during the GPAC tournament. Tristan Smith will be one to watch as he continues to develop. Referred to by Limback as the team’s most athletic player, Tristan Smith brought the crowd to a frenzy in the win over Doane with a thunderous put-back slam. He seems to make at least one big highlight reel play every game. His finish of the full-court alley-oop that beat Briar Cliff made the rounds on ESPN’s lineup of shows.
· Not since the 1995-96 season had the program won a conference regular season title. Limback was a player on the ’95-96 squad that then Head Coach Grant Schmidt guided to an 11-1 mark within the Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference. In addition to ending that drought, the 2021-22 Bulldogs have broken the program record for conference wins in a single season with 15. The previous standard of 14 was held by the 2004-05 and 2020-21 squads. In terms of postseason success, the program has celebrated GPAC tournament titles in 2003, 2005 and 2020. The most recent Concordia team to sweep conference regular season and postseason championships in the same year was the 1994-95 squad that went 30-4 overall.
· According to the NAIA’s “net efficiency” metric, the Bulldogs and Jimmies are the top two teams in the GPAC. When factoring in all games played this season, Concordia sports GPAC rankings of third in scoring offense (79.4), third in field goal percentage defense (.441), third in rebound margin (+3.5), fourth in field goal percentage offense (.485), fourth in scoring defense (70.7) and 10th in 3-point field goal percentage offense (.346). Meanwhile, among GPAC teams, Jamestown ranks first in scoring offense (80.5), first in rebound margin (+10.1), second in scoring defense (69.9), second in field goal percentage defense (.432), third in field goal percentage offense (.492) and third in 3-point field goal percentage offense (.391).
The opponent
Based on last season’s run to the national quarterfinals and a preseason NAIA national ranking of 19th, Jamestown likely expected to earn a better GPAC tournament seed than No. 5. However, the Jimmies may be hitting their stride at the right time. They blew out Dordt, 83-59, in the GPAC quarterfinals and then routed Dakota Wesleyan, 81-56, in the conference semifinals. Any team with a player like reigning GPAC Player of the Year Mason Walters (24.5 ppg, 11.6 rpg) is a serious threat in every game. Walters helps open things up on the perimeter for guards Will Cordes, Marc Kjos and Cole Woodford. One thing Head Coach Danny Neville’s squad does better than any team in the GPAC is rebound. Jamestown can play really big when it brings 6-foot-11 Devon Schultz in off the bench. The Jimmies will be looking to get Concordia back after the Bulldogs swept the regular season series. Concordia won by scores of 92-76 in Seward and 82-79 in North Dakota. Jamestown has won the GPAC tournament title once (2019) since joining the league beginning with the 2018-19 season.
Projected starters
Concordia (24-6)
#5 Carter Kent, G (16.3)
#10 Justin Wiersema, G (11.6)
#11 Gage Smith, F (13.9)
#12 Noah Schutte, F (12.8)
#14 AJ Watson, G (9.5)
Jamestown (24-8)
#0 Marc Kjos, G (11.2)
#1 Will Cordes, G (13.6)
#5 Cole Woodford, G (10.8)
#24 John Argue, F (6.5)
#33 Mason Walters, F (24.5)
GPAC tournament pairings
Quarterfinals – Wednesday, Feb. 23
(8) Dakota Wesleyan def. (1) Briar Cliff, 85-77
(5) Jamestown def. (4) Dordt, 83-59
(6) Doane def. (3) Northwestern, 64-61
(2) Concordia def. (7) Morningside, 83-70
Semifinals – Saturday, Feb. 26
(5) Jamestown def. (8) Dakota Wesleyan, 81-56
(2) Concordia def. (6) Doane, 67-65
Championship – Tuesday, March 1
(5) Jamestown at (2) Concordia, 7 p.m.
Best on the plains!
Mar. 1, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – The 2021-22 Concordia University Men’s Basketball team had already reserved its place in program folklore, but it wasn’t going to settle until securing another trophy. Just after the buzzer sounded on Tuesday (March 1) night, Carter Kent fired the ball high into the air and quickly disappeared amongst a throng of jubilant CUNE students. Court storms have been a theme down the stretch for the 23rd-ranked Bulldogs, who celebrated the program’s second GPAC tournament title in three seasons. They defeated Jamestown in the 2022 GPAC tournament final, 77-70, in front of perhaps the wildest atmosphere in Friedrich Arena history.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad achieved something that had not been done by the program since the 1994-95 season – sweep conference regular season and postseason titles. Concordia will enter the national tournament at 25-6 overall and with a shot at earning one of 16 No. 1 seeds in the opening round.
“It’s awesome – I’m so proud of our guys,” Limback said. “This is why you play. The seniors set some lofty goals at the beginning of the year. GPAC regular season champs. Undefeated at home. And a GPAC tournament championship. There have been so many blessings in this season. I’m just so thankful for the talent of this team, the character and the hard work they’ve put in … How incredible were the students? Just an awesome environment.”
It took gritty defensive play down the stretch for the Bulldogs to finally put away a Jimmie squad that had pulverized its opponents in the GPAC quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. After Will Cordes’ layup with 4:42 left got Jamestown within two (70-68), Concordia went into lockdown mode. In one of the game’s most critical sequences, Justin Wiersema blocked a shot on one end and AJ Watson blew right past a defender for two on the other end with the shot clock running down. The Bulldogs led 74-68 and proceeded to hold the Jimmies scoreless on their next six possessions.
Fittingly, there were many contributors for Concordia, which beat Jamestown for the third time this season. Noah Schutte enjoyed a phenomenal performance that saw him post 22 points (15 in the first half) while Gage Smith put up 20 tough points in a physical contest (Schutte’s career high of 27 points came earlier this season versus Jamestown). Watson’s quickness was a problem all night for the Jimmies. He totaled 15 points and four assists. Defensively, Wiersema was a pest and notched 10 points, five rebounds and two steals.
Kent finished with four points, but his presence and his meaning to this team and program cannot be understated. In his final game inside Friedrich Arena, Kent helped the Bulldogs polish off the program’s first undefeated home season (16-0) during the GPAC era. It would have been difficult to script it any better.
Said Kent, “It’s so awesome. It’s been three times now in like two weeks (that the fans have rushed the court). I never get bored of it. That’s what college basketball’s all about.
“We work all year for this. I’m so proud of these guys. We’ve gone through so much adversity throughout the season. It’s definitely been a rollercoaster ride. It feels good to see it through.”
This was a more up-tempo clash than Concordia’s GPAC semifinal nail-biting win over Doane. On Tuesday, the Bulldogs shot 57.7 percent from the floor and managed to limit Jamestown (24-9) to six made 3-point field goals. Not surprisingly, the taller, longer Jimmies had the rebound advantage (36-27). Jamestown star Mason Walters collected 24 points and 10 rebounds and Cordes added 14 points. While the Jimmies had some advantages in the post, Concordia definitely won out on the perimeter.
It may be sometime in the offseason before members of the team are able to fully process the scope of the accomplishments of this 2021-22 season. Said Limback afterwards, “To see it go from these seniors’ freshmen year to now is special. I just got emotional after the game seeing what they accomplished. I don’t think they realize what a season they’ve had.”
In what was the program’s fifth GPAC tournament championship appearance, the Bulldogs claimed the fourth GPAC postseason title in school history. It had been exactly 17 years to the day since Concordia last won the conference tournament crown at home. The program has hoisted the GPAC postseason trophy in 2003, 2005, 2020 and again in 2022. Many members of the current roster were part of the 2019-20 squad that went to the Corn Palace and edged Dakota Wesleyan, 68-66, for the GPAC tournament title. Fifth-year seniors Ryan Holt and Sam Scarpelli came back to feel that glory once again.
The Bulldogs now await their national tournament draw. Pairings and site assignments for the opening round will be announced during the NAIA’s live selection show scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on Thursday. The show will be streamed via the NAIA Facebook page. Concordia will be headed to the national tournament for the second time in three seasons and for the 11th time in program history.
Kent, Smith named to All-GPAC first team, five Bulldogs honored
Mar. 2, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – A group of five Bulldogs from the GPAC regular season and tournament championship Concordia University Men’s Basketball team landed on the 2022 all-conference list released on Wednesday (March 2) by the conference. Carter Kent and Gage Smith were recognized as first team selections while Justin Wiersema raked in second team laurels and Noah Schutte and AJ Watson were named honorable mention all-conference. The 2022 GPAC Men’s Basketball All-Conference honor roll includes 10 first teamers and 12 second teamers.
2022 GPAC All-Conference
First Team – Carter Kent; Gage Smith
Second Team – Justin Wiersema
Honorable Mention – Noah Schutte, AJ Watson
A Crete, Neb., native, Kent has taken his game to a new level this winter. Kent is a four-time all-conference award winner having also been second team twice and honorable mention once. He was chosen by league coaches as the 2018-19 GPAC Freshman of the Year. On the season, Kent leads the Bulldogs in scoring at 15.9 points per game on the strength of 43.8 percent shooting from the floor, 34.1 percent shooting from 3-point range and 85.3 percent shooting from the free throw line. He is also averaging 3.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Also a CoSIDA Academic All-American, Kent has posted career totals of 1,638 points, 421 rebounds, 311 assists, 238 3-point field goals and 113 steals. He ranks No. 6 on the program’s all-time scoring list. Kent grabbed the spotlight this season with his full-court alley-oop pass on the game winner that beat Briar Cliff on senior night and with his game-winning shot to sink Doane in the GPAC semifinals.
Smith moved up to the GPAC’s first team after picking up second team recognition in 2020-21. The native of Elizabeth, Colo., is averaging 14.1 points and sports shooting percentages of 55.6 from the floor, 32.4 from 3-point range and 70.4 from the foul line. Smith ranks as the team’s rebound leader with 218 for an average of 7.8 per game. Like Kent, Smith was also part of the 2019-20 squad that captured the GPAC tournament title. Smith’s season high of 28 points came in the home win over Hastings. Another of his top performances was the 23-point, 17-rebound outing versus Briar Cliff. In his career, Smith has totaled 922 points, 598 rebounds, 143 assists, 83 steals and 36 blocked shots.
Wiersema has collected all-conference honors for the third time. He was tabbed a first team honoree in 2020-21 and an honorable mention selection in 2019-20. This season, the native of Loveland, Colo., is averaging 11.5 points while shooting 51.8 percent from the floor, 36.2 percent from 3-point range and 76.6 percent from the foul line. He also averages 5.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Wiersema ranks in the top 10 of the program’s all-time list in assists and inside the top 20 in scoring and rebounding. His career totals stand at 1,241 points, 471 rebounds, 294 assists and 134 steals. Wiersema was recognized by the Omaha World-Herald as the 2020-21 Midlands All-Nebraska Honorary Team Captain.
In his second season as a Bulldog, Schutte earned a spot in the starting lineup and has averaged 13.1 points per game. The Laurel, Neb., native is shooting 54.8 percent from the floor, 41.0 percent from 3-point range and 72.0 percent from the free throw line. He also contributes 5.7 rebounds per game. Schutte produced a career high 27 points in the win over then No. 10 Jamestown back in November. His season stat ledger also includes five double-doubles. Schutte has accumulated 454 points and 201 rebounds in his collegiate career.
Another Bulldog who made his way into the starting lineup this season, Watson is a first time All-GPAC honoree. The native of Kansas City, Kan., has started 29 games at the point and has averaged 9.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.0 steal per game. He’s shooting 40.1 percent from the floor, 35.3 percent from the 3-point arc and 82.0 percent from the foul line. Watson’s 17 points in the regular season finale at Dakota Wesleyan were a career high. In three seasons at Concordia, Watson has compiled 522 points, 140 assists, 133 rebounds and 64 steals.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad will learn of its national tournament draw on Thursday when the NAIA selection show is aired. Concordia will make its second national tournament appearance in three seasons.
GPAC Champs to stay local, assigned to Omaha for opening round
Mar. 3, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – A dream season for Concordia University Men’s Basketball will carry on into the opening round of the 2022 NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship. The Bulldogs won’t have to go far. As a No. 5 seed in the 64-team bracket, they will be headed to Sokol Arena in Omaha, Neb., to take on 12th-seeded Indiana University Northwest on March 11. The two other teams in the four-team pod are No. 4 Marian University (Ind.) and No. 13 Freed-Hardeman University (Tenn.). The Concordia/Indiana Northwest winner will play the Marian/Freed-Hardeman winner on March 12.
Head Coach Ben Limback will lead the program to its second national tournament appearance in the past three seasons. It will be the 11th national tournament trip in program history. Two years ago, Concordia played the final NAIA Division II national tournament game ever in what amounted to an 87-84 loss to Ottawa University (Kan.) just before the COVID-19 shutdown.
At the time of release, tipoff times were yet to be announced. The 16 winners from each of the four-team pods will advance to play at the final site, Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.
What makes this team special …
· Coach Limback on the senior class: “This group really took everything in stride. Carter was the GPAC freshman of the year, but all those guys were instrumental in raising the level of the program. This year they wanted to do really, really big things. That first year we were just trying to get in the conference tournament. This year we want to have a chance to win the league. There’s a reason why they’re in this position. They bought in for four years. The culture has been established because of their level of commitment. I already know the banquet and the last game is going to be a tough deal for me as a head coach … They’re all ready to launch and make that next step, whether it’s starting a real estate business or going to med school. They’re all ready to make an impact. It’s going to be bittersweet. They have more to their lives than just basketball. I’m proud to be able to coach them.”
· Carter Kent: “I am most proud of this team because every guy in the room is a great person. They are great basketball players and very talented, but I am most proud of how we get along as a team and how we always enjoy being around each other. Anywhere that we are at is a great time just because the guys are so much fun to be around.”
· Justin Wiersema: “To be a part of this team has meant the world to me these last four years. We started out at the bottom of the GPAC and just believed in each other and eventually started to see results that gave us confidence to do the things we did and eventually get here. Ultimately, it feels pretty satisfying to develop like we have and come out our senior year and really try to prove something.”
· Gage Smith: “I'm proud to be part of a group of guys that have had to fight through a lot of adversity over the years to become the successful team we are today. Our group of guys have that ‘no quit’ mentality and I'm proud of our senior class always showing up for each other.”
· Klay Uher: “I'm most proud of our persistence and ability to get through things together. We came in our freshman year and didn't have the season any of us wanted to have. We talked about being first in the conference and the national tournament a lot, but at that time it wasn't feasible. Through countless workouts, shooting sessions and practices over the years, we have worked hard enough to put ourselves in a position to make those things come to fruition.”
National Tournament Facts
· The 2022 trip to nationals will mark the 11th all-time appearance on the national stage for the program. Head Coach Ben Limback has now led the Bulldogs to two national tournament appearances, including the national tourney trip in 2020. In the first nine appearances, all presided over by former head coach Grant Schmidt, the Bulldogs went a combined 11-9. Limback played for the national qualifying teams of 1996, 1997 and 1998.
· Concordia has won its first-round game at the national tournament five times. Two teams in program history have reached at least the semifinals: the 1991-92 squad and the 2004-05 team (national runner up). The 1994-95 and 2002-03 squads advanced to the national quarterfinals.
· The 2004-05 team set a still-intact school record with 32 wins that season. On the way to reaching the national title game, the ’04-5 group defeated Trinity Christian (Ill.), Flagler (Fla.), Cornerstone (Mich.) and Cedarville (Ohio) in Point Lookout, Mo. The Bulldogs then fell at the hands of Walsh (Ohio) in the program’s lone national title game appearance.
· Concordia’s Marcus Wernke was the NAIA Division II national tournament record holder for most blocked shots in a game (nine) and most blocked shots in a single tournament (23). Both of those feats were accomplished in 2005. Jason Jisa was also honored with the Hustle Award at the ’05 tourney. NAIA Division II came to an end with a fusion of the two divisions following the 2019-20 season.
· Schmidt led the Bulldogs to their first-ever national tournament appearance in 1991. At that time, the NAIA was still just one division for basketball. Four members of the 1990-91 squad have been inducted into the Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame: Matt List, John Puelz, Devin Smith and Mike Works. The latter three were also members of the 1991-92 squad that broke through with the program’s first-ever national tournament win.
· On March 12, 2020, the Bulldogs played in the final NAIA Division II men’s basketball game ever. The remainder of the tournament following Concordia’s 87-84 loss to Ottawa (Kan.) was shut down due to COVID-19. Six Bulldogs on the current roster saw action in that national tournament game: Ryan Holt, Carter Kent, Sam Scarpelli, Gage Smith, AJ Watson and Justin Wiersema. The contest took place at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Opening round preview: GPAC Champs readying for action in Omaha
Mar. 6, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – A historic season for Concordia University Men’s Basketball will make a stop in Omaha for the opening round of the 2022 NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship. The fifth-seeded Bulldogs are in the process of preparing to take on 12th-seeded Indiana University Northwest at 7:15 p.m. CT on Friday. Head Coach Ben Limback will lead the program into its second national tournament appearance in three seasons. The other two teams that will join Concordia in the four-team pod at DJ Sokol Arena are fourth-seeded Marian University (Ind.) and 13th-seeded Freed-Hardeman University (Tenn.).
Opening Round Info (March 11-12)
*Tournament Home Page*
-Host: Omaha Sports Commission
-Site: DJ Sokol Arena (Omaha, Neb.)
-Tickets: https://am.ticketmaster.com/creighton/buy?filterType=3
--NOTE: There are no attendance limits. Masking is recommended but not required.
-Live Streaming Link: https://striv.tv/naia-omaha/ (pay-per-view)
-Live Stats: Presto Stats
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Game Schedule
2022 NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship Bracket (PDF)
Friday, March 11: (4) Marian (25-5) vs. (13) Freed-Hardeman (19-12), 4:30 p.m. CT
Friday, March 11: (5) Concordia (25-6) vs. (12) Indiana Northwest (23-7), 7:15 p.m. CT
Saturday, March 12: Concordia/Indiana Northwest vs. Marian/Freed-Hardeman, 7:30 p.m. CT
(Opening Round Final – winner advances to the final site)
By the numbers
· This will mark the first year of a 64-team, one-division bracket in NAIA men’s basketball. From the 1991-92 through 2019-20 seasons, the NAIA was separated into two divisions. That changed last season when the divisions were dissolved. Due to consequences related to COVID-19, the field for the 2021 tournament was limited to 48 teams. Had the bracket included 64 squads as originally planned, the Bulldogs would likely be making a third-straight national tournament appearance. Concordia qualified for the 2020 NAIA Division II tournament after winning the GPAC postseason title.
· The 2022 trip to nationals will mark the 11th all-time appearance on the national stage for the program. Head Coach Ben Limback has now led the Bulldogs to two national tournament appearances, including the national tourney trip in 2020. In the first nine appearances, all presided over by former head coach Grant Schmidt, the Bulldogs went a combined 11-9. Limback played for the national qualifying teams of 1996, 1997 and 1998. Concordia has won its first-round game at the national tournament five times. Two teams in program history have reached at least the semifinals: the 1991-92 squad and the 2004-05 team (national runner up). The 1994-95 and 2002-03 squads advanced to the national quarterfinals.
· The accomplishments of the 2021-22 Bulldogs will be long remembered no matter the results at the national tournament. Coach Limback’s squad became the program’s first conference regular season champion since 1995-96 and the first Concordia edition since 1994-95 to claim both conference regular season and postseason championships in the same year. During the GPAC era (2000-present), the Bulldogs had not produced an undefeated home record since the ’21-22 team recently polished off a 16-0 home mark. That perfect record was put to the test in buzzer-beating wins over Peru State College and Briar Cliff. Nothing was more memorable than the Carter Kent-to-Tristan Smith full-court alley-oop at the buzzer to beat Briar Cliff, 74-73. In addition, this team has broken a program record for conference wins in a season with 15.
· Concordia’s No. 5 seed in the national tournament and No. 11 RPI in the NAIA show just how underrated it has been all season. The Bulldogs were ranked No. 23 in the final NAIA coaches’ poll that was released on Feb. 23. The selection committee helped make the correction by rewarding Concordia with a trip to nearby Omaha. In another official metric, the Bulldogs were calculated to have played the 47th most challenging schedule in the NAIA. Concordia has defeated fellow national qualifiers in Briar Cliff, Dordt (twice), Jamestown (three times) and Northwestern and played a tight game with nonconference foe William Jessup University (Calif.), another qualifier.
· All five Concordia starters were named to the 2021-22 all-conference team. Carter Kent and Gage Smith were recognized as first teamers, Justin Wiersema landed on the second team and Noah Schutte and AJ Watson garnered honorable mention accolades. Kent is a four-time all-conference award winner having also been second team twice and honorable mention once. He was chosen by league coaches as the 2018-19 GPAC Freshman of the Year. On the season, Kent leads the Bulldogs in scoring at 15.9 points per game on the strength of 43.8 percent shooting from the floor, 34.1 percent shooting from 3-point range and 85.3 percent shooting from the free throw line. He is also averaging 3.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Also a CoSIDA Academic All-American, Kent has posted career totals of 1,638 points, 421 rebounds, 311 assists, 238 3-point field goals and 113 steals.
· Kent, Smith and Wiersema have been moving up the program’s all-time lists. With 1,638 career points, Kent is 21 shy of Director of Athletics Devin Smith (1,659) for fifth on the program’s all-time scoring chart. Kent also sports school career rankings of sixth in 3-point field goals and eighth in assists. Wiersema has moved to ninth in assists (294), 19th in rebounds (471) and 20th in scoring (1,241). Gage Smith has pushed his career point total to 922. He ranks 12th in program history with 598 career rebounds. For reference, the top four scorers in program history, above Devin Smith and Kent, are Jon Ziegler (2,099), Tom Raabe (2,016), Chandler Folkerts (1,963) and John Puelz (1,955).
· On March 12, 2020, the Bulldogs played in the final NAIA Division II men’s basketball game ever. The remainder of the tournament following Concordia’s 87-84 loss to Ottawa (Kan.) was shut down due to COVID-19. Six Bulldogs on the current roster saw action in that national tournament game: Ryan Holt, Carter Kent, Sam Scarpelli, Gage Smith, AJ Watson and Justin Wiersema. The contest took place at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Opponent breakdown
(12) Indiana University Northwest
Overall Record: 23-7
Location: Gary, Indiana
Conference: Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
Head Coach: Javier Heridia
RPI: T-37th
SOS: T-137th
O-PPG: 75.8
D-PPG: 69.6
All-Conference: Jared Johnson (first team); Marshaud Watkins (honorable mention).
(4) Marian University
Overall Record: 25-5
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Conference: Crossroads League
Head Coach: Scott Heady
RPI: T-12th
SOS: T-76th
O-PPG: 80.4
D-PPG: 63.0
All-Conference: Christian Stewart (first team); Malek Edmonds (first team); Jacob Wiley (second team); Christian Harvey (honorable mention); Tyrie Johnson (all-defensive team).
(13) Freed-Hardeman University
Overall Record: 19-12
Location: Henderson, Tennessee
Conference: Mid-South Conference
Head Coach: Drew Stutts
RPI: 36th
SOS: 13th
O-PPG: 78.9
D-PPG: 75.9
All-Conference: Kortland Martin (first team); Geraldo Lane (freshman of the year).
Final site
Whichever team wins twice in Omaha will advance to play at the national tournament final site, Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. Action from downtown KC will take place March 17-22. NAIA men’s basketball has a long history in Kansas City with the first national tournament having taken place there in 1937. Additional information about the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship can be found via the NAIA website HERE.
Round of 16 Preview: Bulldogs carry momentum into KC
Mar. 14, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – In the first year of a 64-team bracket for the NAIA national tournament, the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team has reached the championship’s final site as one of 16 teams left standing. The fifth-seeded Bulldogs cruised through their opening round in Omaha with wins over 12th-seeded Indiana University Northwest, 96-78, and fourth-seeded Marian University (Ind.), 90-67. Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad has moved to 27-6 overall heading into Friday’s national round of 16 matchup with No. 8 seed Indiana University Kokomo. All remaining games will be played at historic Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City, Mo.
NAIA National Championship Final Site Info
-Location: Municipal Auditorium | Kansas City, Mo.
-Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com/naia-basketball-tournament-tickets/artist/2774366
-Live Streaming Link: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/naia/ (pay-per-view)
-Live Stats: Presto Stats
-Radio: 104.9 Max Country (will cover all Concordia games)
-Tournament Sponsor: Ballogy
-Concordia’s Honorary Coach: Sports Radio 810 WHB (Kansas City)
Game Schedule
2022 NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship Bracket (PDF)
Round of 16 – Friday, March 18: (5) Concordia (27-6) vs. (8) IU Kokomo (31-3), 7 p.m.
If Concordia continues to advance …
Quarterfinals – Saturday, March 19, 7 p.m.
Semifinals – Monday, March 21, 7 p.m.
Championship – Tuesday, March 22, 7 p.m.
By the numbers
· The Bulldogs did not waste any time in proving they belong on the national stage while earning convincing wins over IU Northwest and Marian. In the process, the program claimed its 12th and 13th wins all-time at the national tournament and its first national tournament victories since the 2004-05 squad made a run to the NAIA Division II national championship game. In terms of margin of victory in the opening round, only Loyola University of New Orleans was more dominant last week. Concordia’s average margin of victory of 20.5 points was second only to Loyola among the 16 teams headed to Kansas City. The Bulldogs are at the national tournament for the 11th time in program history.
· This year marks the fifth time in program history that Concordia has won multiple games at a single national tournament. Under former Head Coach Grant Schmidt (nine national tournament appearances), the Bulldogs accomplished that feat in 1992, 1995, 2003 and 2005. Concordia reached at least the quarterfinal round in each of those instances (two all-time semifinal advancements). Concordia is going back to Kansas City, where it made its first ever national tournament appearance back in 1991. At that time, the NAIA tournament was played at Kemper Arena. That 1990-91 Bulldog squad featured future Concordia Athletic Hall of Famers in Matt List, John Puelz, Devin Smith and Mike Works.
· While balance was again a theme last week for Concordia, it’s probably fair to consider Noah Schutte the unofficial MVP of the opening round. Over the first two national tournament games, the Laurel, Neb., native posted a combined 41 points, 16 rebounds and three blocked shots while making 14-of-20 (.700) shots from the floor and 11-of-14 (.786) free throw attempts. The other top scorers over the weekend were Carter Kent (33), AJ Watson (26), Justin Wiersema (24), Gage Smith (23), Tristan Smith (19) and Sam Scarpelli (16). In the victory over Marian, Gage Smith went for 16 points and 16 rebounds. The offense as a whole operated with incredible efficiency as the Bulldogs shot 50.4 percent (62-for-123) from the floor, 43.6 percent (24-for-55) from 3-point range and 77.6 percent (38-for-49) from the foul line. Meanwhile, the opponents shot 39.3 percent from the field.
· Kent has reserved a special place within Concordia Men’s Basketball lore. The clutch moments will live on – the full-court alley-oop pass to beat Briar Cliff at the buzzer and the game-winning shot against Doane in the GPAC semifinals among them. In addition, Kent keeps moving up the program’s all-time lists. He pushed himself to No. 5 all-time in scoring with 1,671 points, leapfrogging him above Devin Smith (1,659). Kent ranks behind only Jon Ziegler (2,099), Tom Raabe (2,016), Chandler Folkerts (1,963) and John Puelz (1,955). On other school lists, Kent ranks fifth in 3-point field goals (246) and eighth in assists (317). Meanwhile, Wiersema has jumped up to ninth in assists (299) and 18th in scoring (1,265). In addition, Gage Smith now ranks 10th for career rebounds (619).
· For Limback, this is his ninth season leading his alma mater and his 18th season overall as a collegiate head coach. Limback sports an overall coaching record of 278-270, including a mark of 163-112 at CUNE. Before returning to Seward, Limback spent nine seasons as the head coach at Concordia University Ann Arbor. As a player at Concordia, Limback helped the Bulldogs to three national tournament appearances. Limback and his college coach, Schmidt, are the only two head coaches in school history to lead the program to the national tournament. Limback led Concordia to its first conference regular season title since the 1995-96 season.
· The list of accomplishments this season keeps growing. The 27 wins in 2021-22 are the third most in a season in program history, trailing only the 2004-05 team that went 32-6 and the 1994-95 squad that went 30-4. This season has also included a perfect home record (16-0) and a sweep of GPAC regular season and tournament championships. The 15 GPAC wins were a school record for most conference victories in a season. In all measurable ways, this has been one of the greatest seasons in school history.
Opponent breakdown
(8) Indiana University Kokomo
Overall Record: 31-3
Location: Kokomo, Indiana
Conference: River States Conference
Head Coach: Eric Echelbarger (4th season)
RPI: T-23rd
SOS: T-189th
O-PPG: 76.8
D-PPG: 65.6
All-Conference: Eric Echelbarger (Coach of the Year); Desean Hampton (Player of the Year; First Team); Trequan Spivey (First Team).
Overview: Based on seeding, IU Kokomo is the biggest Cinderella story of the tournament so far. The eighth-seeded Cougars got to this point thanks to an 82-80 win over ninth-seeded Dordt and then an eye-opening 93-92 upset of top-seeded William Penn University (Iowa). While that result may have surprised many nationally, Head Coach Eric Echelbarger’s squad is used to winning. IU Kokomo will carry a 19-game winning streak into Friday’s matchup. In the win over William Penn, Trequan Spivey put up 24 points and Allante Harper added 22. The headlining individual on the team is Desean Hampton, the River Stats Conference Player of the Year. Hampton is the program’s all-time leading scorer with more than 2,000 career points. The Cougars’ most recent loss actually came against a team Concordia just played – IU Northwest on Dec. 16. Nationally, IU Kokomo ranks 12th in field goal percentage defense (.399), 17th in scoring defense (65.6) and 30th in field goal percentage offense (.481).
Potential Quarterfinal opponents: The Concordia/IU Kokomo winner will play either second-seeded Talladega College (Ala.) or sixth-seeded Jamestown at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday as part of the Duer Quadrant final. The Bulldogs are plenty familiar with Jamestown, a conference opponent that they have beaten three times this season. The most recent matchup came in the GPAC tournament championship game. The Jimmies advanced to Kansas City by way of wins over No. 11 Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) and No. 3 Carroll (Mont.). Meanwhile, Talladega’s national tournament path has included wins over No. 15 Washington Adventist (Md.) and Cumberland (Tenn.). The Tornadoes were ranked sixth in the NAIA coaches’ poll released on Feb. 23. The stars of the show for Talladega have been First Team All-Southern States Athletic Conference honorees Darryl Baker and Cam Potts. Two-time GPAC Player of the Year Mason Walters of Jamestown presents a problem for all opponents. A year ago, Jamestown reached the national quarterfinals while Talladega was eliminated in the round of 32.
Round of 16 pairings
Duer Quadrant
(5) Concordia vs. (8) IU Kokomo
(2) Talladega (Ala.) vs. (6) Jamestown (N.D.)
Liston Quadrant
(1) Oklahoma Wesleyan vs. (5) LSU Shreveport (La.)
(6) SAGU (Texas) vs. (2) Thomas More (Ky.)
Naismith Quadrant
(1) Loyola (La.) vs. (4) Faulkner (Ala.)
(3) College of Idaho vs. (7) Grace (Ind.)
Cramer Quadrant
(1) Arizona Christian vs. (5) Bethel (Kan.)
(3) William Jessup (Calif.) vs. (2) Indiana Wesleyan
Kent earns second career CoSIDA Academic All-America award
Mar. 15, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – As Head Coach Ben Limback put it, Carter Kent is the “complete package.” A central figure for his role in this season’s Concordia University Men’s Basketball success, Kent has been named to the 2021-22 Academic All-America® Men's Basketball Team, as selected by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). With Tuesday (March 15)’s announcement, Kent has been voted an Academic All-American for the second year in a row. He’s also a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-District selection.
The 2021-22 Academic All-America® Men’s Basketball Teams, selected by CoSIDA, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes football honorees in four divisions — NAIA, NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III.
The honor roll so far this season for Kent has included recognition as a First Team All-GPAC award winner. A 4.0 biology student, the Crete High School product has led the 2021-22 Bulldogs to GPAC regular season and tournament championships and to a spot in the national round of 16. Through 33 games this season, Kent is averaging 15.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 44.4 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from 3-point range and 82.6 percent from the foul line. Kent totaled a combined 33 points (8-for-12 from beyond the arc) in last week’s national tournament wins over Indiana University Northwest and Marian University (Ind.).
On the program’s all-time lists, Kent ranks fifth in scoring (1,671), fifth in 3-point field goals (246) and eighth in assists (317). Kent was named Second Team All-GPAC in both 2019-20 and 2020-21 and was chosen as the 2018-19 GPAC Freshman of the Year.
Kent and Chandler Folkerts are the lone two Bulldogs in Concordia Men’s Basketball history to be honored as CoSIDA Academic All-Americans. Folkerts was named an Academic All-American three times and was tabbed the CoSIDA NAIA Men’s Basketball Academic All-American of the Year in 2016-17.
Schutte stars as special season carries into national quarterfinals
Mar. 18, 2022
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Through three rounds of national tournament play, no moment has felt too big for this Concordia University Men’s Basketball team. Under the brightest of spotlights the NAIA has to offer, the fifth-seeded Bulldogs grinded out a 75-65 win over eighth-seeded Indiana University Kokomo in the round of 16 at the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship on Friday (March 18). Noah Schutte delighted the Bulldog faithful on hand inside Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City by rattling off a game high 24 points.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad has won each of its three national tournament games by double digits and has moved to 28-6 overall. Just about everything Concordia is accomplishing right now is a first for the program since the 2004-05 season when it made a run to the NAIA Division II national title game.
“A lot of us hadn’t been to this venue before,” Limback said. “Yesterday gave us a chance to soak it all in and see some teams play. There are really good teams here. Something we wanted to do is just represent our league and do our best. We had a little nerves at times, but overall it was a gritty, tough effort. The second half was really a slugfest. Noah Schutte had an outstanding game again providing a lot of tough buckets for us.
“Survive and move on. That’s what this team is about right now. I’m just so proud of the guys.”
IU Kokomo (31-4) had upset the NAIA’s top-ranked team, William Penn University (Iowa), in the preceding round and made it a physical battle on Friday night. This was far from easy for the Bulldogs, who committed 20 turnovers and had three players foul out. However, Concordia got it done by following Schutte’s lead, by owning a 45-29 advantage on the boards and by limiting the Cougars to 39.3 percent (24-for-61) shooting.
With less than five minutes remaining, the Bulldogs clung to a 62-58 lead. They finally found some breathing room with the help of Schutte’s second three-point play of the second half. IU Kokomo remained a challenge to put away. With the lead at 71-65 in the closing 30 seconds, Carter Kent and Gage Smith both went 2-for-2 from the foul line to seal the victory. Defense and rebounding were the key parts of the formula.
Said Schutte, “We’re taking a one-game mentality like we have been the whole year – no nerves. We came out here and we were ready for a fight. Kokomo is a great team and it was just a great team win. It was gritty by us for sure.”
Schutte pulled in 12 rebounds as part of his double-double and a continuation of a monster national tournament run. Kent added 16 points, five assists and four rebounds while Gage Smith supplied 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Sam Scarpelli also chipped in with seven points off the bench while draining a pair of first-half threes. Tristan Smith posted five points and six rebounds.
The bulk of the Cougar scoring came from three players: Tayson Parker (16), Trequan Spivey (14) and Desean Hampton (13). Hampton was the player of the year in the River States Conference. IU Kokomo came into the game holding foes to an average of 65.6 points per game.
The Bulldogs did not get loose for the type of offensive flurry they showcased in Omaha last week, but they have proven they can win in more ways than one. Said Limback, “It’s a different team right now. There’s a lot of confidence, but they’re also aware of the challenges at hand. We have to be better. I thought we made a lot of careless mistakes tonight and kind of beat ourselves at times. When you walk in the locker room and there’s not this huge celebration – they know what they want to accomplish. That was just one game and we’ve got a tough team again tomorrow.”
Saturday’s national quarterfinal matchup with second-seeded Talladega College (Ala.) will tip off at 7 p.m. CT from Municipal Auditorium. A member of the Southern States Athletic Conference, the Tornadoes (30-5) knocked off Jamestown, 67-56, in the round of 16 on Friday. For Concordia, this will be its fifth all-time appearance in a national quarterfinal game. The Bulldogs have reached the semifinals twice in program history.
Season of incredible joy ends in NAIA National Quarterfinals
Mar. 20, 2022
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Just as anyone who followed the team throughout the 2021-22 season would have expected, Concordia University Men’s Basketball did not go down without a fight. A storybook season concluded on Saturday (March 19) as the Bulldogs were taken out by second-seeded Talladega College (Ala.), 77-69, in the quarterfinals of the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship held in Kansas City, Mo. The size and length of the Tornadoes presented Concordia with matchup challenges and the GPAC champions shot only 3-for-20 from 3-point range.
In the immediate aftermath, the result stings. With time, members of the Bulldogs will come to appreciate what they accomplished even more. Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad wrapped up the campaign at 28-7 overall for the third most wins in program history.
“We knew their size was going to be an issue and they shot it really, really well,” Limback said. “When they’re doing that, they’re a tough team to stop. We just couldn’t get it going offensively. I thought we had really good looks in the first half. We missed some front ends of one-and-ones in the first half. We miss a three and they hit a three – that was a big momentum shift heading into the locker room at halftime. I thought we’d regroup and we would come out fighting. We just couldn’t get that easy bucket to go … I’m proud of how we finished the game. There was some fight in them.”
With a spot in the national semifinals on the line, Concordia played Talladega to a near stalemate through the first 11 minutes. That’s about the time when things went awry for the Bulldogs. A long 3-point shot at the first-half buzzer by Markel Williams staked the Tornadoes to a 45-34 lead at the break. Talladega, ranked sixth in the most recent NAIA coaches’ poll, then went on a 9-0 run to begin the second half. It was an extreme uphill battle the rest of the way. The Tornadoes built a lead as large as 22 (70-48) while netting 11 treys.
The Bulldogs switched things up and turned on the press, went to zone looks and made things just a bit interesting down the stretch. Turnovers and missed free throws by Talladega provided a sliver a of hope that was eventually stamped out. It just wasn’t in Concordia’s DNA to stop playing. It simply fell victim to a talented squad led by a trio of double-figure scorers: Kamron Brice (20), Cam Potts (15) and Darryl Baker (10).
Noah Schutte continued an incredible tournament by totaling 15 points and 11 rebounds on Saturday. If NAIA basketball observers nationally were unaware of Schutte before, they shouldn’t be anymore. The Laurel, Neb., native went for 24 points and 12 rebounds in Friday’s win over Indiana University Kokomo. Meanwhile, AJ Watson sliced and diced his way to a career high 21 points in his hometown of Kansas City and Carter Kent notched 12 points and six rebounds in his final game as a Bulldog.
It wasn’t just the trophies, the championships or the national tournament run that made this team special. There was a special bond shared between a group that never wavered in its commitment to each other, its maturity and its Christian principles. There was a reason why Ryan Holt and Sam Scarpelli came back for a fifth season and why it was going to be impossible to hold back the tears when the run eventually did come to a halt.
Said Limback, “I think everybody’s going to remember the SportsCenter moment and some of the trophies and the elite eight run. I think what they’re going to remember most is the brotherhood. That’s what the people saw when they watched them play. That’s what I saw when I got to coach them and enjoy it with them. God truly blessed this team with a lot of fun memories, but I think what they’re going to take away is the brotherhood and the love they share. That’s what made them special.”
This was also the end of the line for Holt and Scarpelli and four-year players such as Justin Wiersema and Klay Uher and possibly Gage Smith as well. Gage Smith tallied eight points and eight rebounds on Saturday while Wiersema notched six points and three rebounds. Tristan Smith chipped in with six points off the bench. As for Kent, he departs as the fifth leading scorer in program history with 1,699 career points.
For so many reasons, the 2021-22 squad has etched its place in Concordia Bulldog Basketball lore. Said Limback, “What a joy it was to be a part of it. It was a season I don’t think any of us will ever forget. It will be fun to reflect on that. I told my wife that this last game was going to be one of the hardest for me as a coach just because of who they are as people. It’s truly an amazing group of guys.”
The run this season marked the program’s fifth all-time national quarterfinal appearance (and first since 2005). The 2021-22 Bulldogs had hoped to become the program’s third semifinalist (semifinal appearances were achieved in 1992 and 2005). One thing it will always be able to claim – the first team in program history to win the GPAC regular season title.
Schutte named to NAIA Championship All-Tournament Team
Mar. 22, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – In his first experience on the national stage, Concordia University Men’s Basketball second-year player Noah Schutte made his mark. Thanks to his monster work over four games at the 2022 NAIA Men’s Basketball Championship, Schutte has been named to the NAIA All-Tournament Team. The announcement came on Tuesday (March 22) following the national championship game. Schutte was joined on the team by eight other standouts from around the NAIA.
Schutte becomes the program’s first NAIA Championship All-Tournament honoree since both Jason Jisa and Jon Ziegler landed on the all-tournament team in 2005. Seventeen years after Jisa and Ziegler led the way to an appearance in the NAIA Division II national title game, Schutte powered the Bulldogs to the 2022 national quarterfinals in a one-division format.
An Honorable Mention All-GPAC choice this season, Schutte elevated his game on the national stage and averaged 20.0 points and 9.8 rebounds while shooting 63.4 percent from the floor and 79.3 percent from the foul line during national tournament play. Statistically, Schutte’s best performance in the postseason was his 24-point, 12-rebound outing in the round of 16 win over Indiana University Kokomo. Schutte also notched 21 points versus Indiana University Northwest and 20 against Marian University (Ind.). For the season, the Laurel, Neb., native and Laurel-Concord-Coleridge High School product averaged 13.9 points and 6.2 rebounds.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad finished the 2021-22 campaign at 28-7 overall. The team’s accomplishments included GPAC regular season and tournament championships and a perfect 16-0 home record.
2022 NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship All-Tournament Team:
Noah Schutte, Concordia (Neb.)
Cash Williams, William Jessup (Calif.)
Bryce Davis, Arizona Christian
Ryan Batte, Thomas More (Ky.)
Jake O’Neil, College of Idaho
Jalen Galloway, Loyola (La.)
Zach Wrightsil, Loyola (La.)
Jervay Green, Talladega (Ala.)
Darryl Baker, Talladega (Ala.)
Coach Limback and Bulldogs recognized with NAIA Team Sportsmanship Award
Mar. 23, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – In conjunction with the special awards announced after the NAIA national championship game, Head Coach Ben Limback and the Concordia University Men’s Basketball team were recognized with the Dr. James Naismith-Emil S. Liston Team Sportsmanship Award on Tuesday (March 22). The honor is selected by the national tournament committee and rewarded to the team that best exemplifies the NAIA Champions of Character core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.
Limback and the 2021-22 Bulldogs finished the season at 28-7 overall as part of a journey that included GPAC regular season and tournament championships and a run to the quarterfinals of the national tournament. There was a lot more to this team than the success. A squad led by CoSIDA Academic All-American Carter Kent carried itself with class, win or lose.
Said Limback following the season’s final game, “I think everybody’s going to remember the SportsCenter moment and some of the trophies and the elite eight run. I think what they’re going to remember most is the brotherhood. That’s what the people saw when they watched them play. That’s what I saw when I got to coach them and enjoy it with them. God truly blessed this team with a lot of fun memories, but I think what they’re going to take away is the brotherhood and the love they share. That’s what made them special.”
Concordia’s Noah Schutte was also honored as a NAIA Men’s Basketball Championship All-Tournament Team selection. For more on that award, click HERE.
Kent's elite senior season results in Second Team All-America honors
Mar. 24, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – An elite senior season has resulted in Concordia University Men’s Basketball standout Carter Kent being named an NAIA Second Team All-American, as announced by the NAIA on Thursday (March 24). The honor comes on the heels of Kent leading the Bulldogs to an appearance in the quarterfinals of the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship. Kent is the program’s first player to land on either the first, second or third team of the All-America list since Chandler Folkerts (second team) in 2017.
The honor roll in 2021-22 for Kent has included recognition as a First Team All-GPAC and CoSIDA Academic All-America award winner. As a senior this season, Kent averaged 15.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 43.6 percent from the floor, 34.7 percent from beyond the arc and 83.8 percent from the foul line. Over the past four seasons, Kent did not miss a single game while playing in 126 contests (125 starts). His career totals stand at 1,699 points, 438 rebounds, 324 assists, 248 3-point field goals (.351) and 115 steals. On the program’s all-time lists, Kent ranks fifth in scoring and 3-point field goals and seventh in assists.
Kent’s career awards are listed below. A star on the court, the Crete High School product also sports a spotless 4.0 grade-point average as a biology major. Kent plans to enter veterinarian school at the University of Nebraska upon his graduation from Concordia this May. An ultimate team player, Kent helped guide the Bulldogs to two GPAC tournament titles, two national tournament appearances, one GPAC regular season championship and to a combined four-year record of 84-42.
Kent career honors
· 2021-22 NAIA Second Team All-American
· Program’s No. 5 all-time scorer (1,699 career points)
· Four-time All-GPAC (2021-22 First Team; 2020-21/2019-20 Second Team; 2018-19 Honorable Mention)
· 2018-19 GPAC Freshman of the Year
· Two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American; three-time CoSIDA Academic All-District
· Two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete
· Three-time Omaha World-Herald All-Midlands Team
· Twice named GPAC Player of the Week
All-Time Concordia All-Americans
Scott Beck (2005-HM)
Porter Birtell (2012-HM)
Tyler Byrd (2011-HM)
Josh Dahlke (1999-HM)
Rick Dietze (2003-HM; 2004-2nd)
Darin Englebart (1995-2nd; 1996-2nd)
Chandler Folkerts (2016-HM; 2017-2nd)
Jason Glines (1993-HM; 1994-HM)
Jason Jisa (2005-3rd)
Carter Kent (2022-2nd)
Ben Limback (1998-HM; 1999-HM)
Drew Olson (2003-HM)
John Puelz (1992-HM)
Scott Schmidt (1997-HM)
Tim Schroeder (2000-HM)
Brevin Sloup (2020-HM)
Devin Smith (1992-HM)
Glen Snodgrass (1997-HM)
Bret Walter (1996-HM)
Travis Wischmeier (2002-HM)
Jon Ziegler (2007-3rd)
Season-In-Review: 2021-22 Concordia Men's Basketball
Apr. 1, 2022
There likely has never been a more incredible month-long story in the history of Concordia University Men’s Basketball than the one the 2021-22 Bulldogs authored from Feb. 16 through the end of the season. That stretch featured perhaps the most unbelievable buzzer beater in Friedrich Arena history, three home court stormings, celebrations of GPAC regular season and postseason championships and a run to the quarterfinals of the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship. Talk about a whirlwind.
Only now can Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad take a step back and begin to comprehend all that happened throughout the course of one of the greatest Concordia Men’s Basketball seasons ever.
“It was a surreal run,” Limback said. “The goals this team set before the season included all of these things, but I’ll remember the way this team went about it and how we accomplished it. It was a whirlwind. That Briar Cliff ending where we had to win that game to stay alive in the regular season title race – and to win it in such amazing fashion – gave us a jolt that I think we needed. I don’t think any of us were surprised with what this team accomplished this year. It was more about how we accomplished the things we did. That made it even more special. We set goals to go undefeated at home, be the regular season champion, be the tournament champion and at least make the Sweet 16 of the national tournament. They can walk away and check those boxes.”
Check. Check. Check. It was a season characterized by reaching heights no one currently inside the program had ever experienced. After feeling the disappointment in how the 2020-21 campaign ended too soon, an experienced and together group came back with a vengeance this winter. Four-year standouts Carter Kent, Gage Smith and Justin Wiersema led the way for a team that also got a major boost from the growth of Noah Schutte. In addition, AJ Watson took to the point guard role and was an X-factor for the Bulldogs, who finished with 28 wins – third most in school history. This is why Ryan Holt and Sam Scarpelli returned for fifth seasons of college hoops.
An eight-game win streak that spilled into the national tournament began with the aforementioned buzzer beater. With Concordia down 73-72 and one second remaining versus Briar Cliff, Kent rifled a full-court alley-oop pass to Tristan Smith for the game winner. The no-way-that-just-happened moment made its way onto ESPN shows such as SportsCenter, College GameDay and Around The Horn and was spotlighted by Barstool Sports. Thanks to the virility of social media, people all over the country shared in the zaniness.
The best basketball was yet to come. While playing each round of the GPAC tournament at home, the Bulldogs cut through Morningside in the quarterfinals, Doane in the semifinals and Jamestown amidst a raucous GPAC championship atmosphere inside Friedrich Arena. At the national tournament, Concordia rolled through the first two rounds in Omaha, defeating Indiana University Northwest, 96-78, and Marian University (Ind.), 90-67.
Under the brightest of lights the NAIA has to offer, the Bulldogs knocked off Indiana University Kokomo, 75-65, in the national round of 16 at historic Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City. Ultimately, the season came to a close with a 77-69 loss coming at the hands of eventual national runner up Talladega College (Ala.) in the quarterfinals. Almost everything Concordia achieved this past winter was a first for the program since the 2004-05 journey to the NAIA Division II national championship game.
Another aspect of the run that made it so special was the connection felt by Bulldog Basketball alums, who felt the memories of their own national tournament experiences rush back to them. Concordia Women’s Basketball Head Coach Drew Olson felt that same pride. Olson had played for two national tournament teams under former Head Coach Grant Schmidt.
Said Olson, “I was so pumped and so proud of what the team did. They are role models to my boys. They inspired everyone in this community. I’m so impressed with Coach Limback. What Ben has done over the last five years in turning the program around, I’m impressed and so proud as an alum. I love what he’s doing. I love being a part of it and being close to it. It’s so fun and I’m so happy for them.”
Not since 1991 had Concordia played a national tournament game in Kansas City. At that time, Director of Athletics Devin Smith starred for a squad that made the program’s first ever national tournament appearance. The 2021-22 Bulldogs were impressed by Municipal Auditorium and the whole national tournament experience.
“It was awesome,” Limback said. “That’s what you live for – to be amongst the best of the best at your level. Municipal Auditorium is a beautiful venue. I had never been there before – none of our team had ever been there before. It’s just a great sight and a great place to host a national tournament. We were all like kids in a candy store where you just take it all in. Then you get to play basketball again with your team. That’s what made it special.”
Individually, Kent drew the most attention while putting together an elite senior season that saw him average 15.8 points per game and become the fifth highest scorer (1,699 career points) in program history. Kent was named an NAIA Second Team All-American and a First Team All-GPAC selection. He was joined on the league’s first team by teammate Gage Smith while Wiersema landed on the second team. Both Schutte and Watson garnered honorable mention recognition. At the national tournament, Schutte elevated his game to new heights and was named to the National Championship All-Tournament Team.
Saying goodbye to the senior class was an emotional thing for Limback. Said Limback, “This senior class will always have a special place in my heart. They came in their freshman year and they built it from the ground up. We were all able enjoy it together this year. We couldn’t have done it without them. I think they have a lot of pride in that. Whether it was a guy like Carter Kent who was a 1,500-point scorer or a guy like Tanner Wubbels who came in as a freshman, and had major surgeries, it was a special group.”
In addition to Kent, Smith and Wiersema, the class of four-year student-athletes included Nick Cito, Klay Uher and Tanner Wubbels. In his fifth season in the program, Holt provided veteran leadership and came away with a lasting memory when he drained a buzzer-beating 3-point shot to edge Peru State College early in the season. Off the bench, Scarpelli always brought energy and the ability to knock down perimeter shots.
With so many seniors and super seniors set to move on, there will be opportunities for others to emerge in 2022-23. Schutte and Watson will surely take on even larger roles while Bulldog fans should also expect to see more of Chaminade University transfer Garrett Seagren and the high-flying Tristan Smith. Limback and his staff, which added Ryan Tegtmeier this past season, believe they have a recruiting class coming in that will help fortify the roster.
Another national tournament appearance will be the goal, but all future teams will be hard-pressed to duplicate the Christian character, togetherness and thrilling moments that are now synonymous with the 2021-22 Bulldogs.
Said Limback, “We’re going to remember more than the trophies and the banners or individual accomplishments. More than that, it was about the relationships, the brotherhood and the memories we’re going to have forever. It’s not about the destination. It’s about the journey you go on during these seasons. It’s the people you’re on the journey with that you’re going to forever remember. All of us are exhausted, but just so blessed and thankful for everything we’ve been able to be a part of. I’m going to miss these guys who are moving on. I think we all sense that now – is this really done? We had a bonus month of basketball and were able to play in front of amazing crowds. I’m just so humbled. There’s a surreal feeling to the end of the season. We’re just so grateful for it.”
Kent named captain of World-Herald's Midlands Team as one of five Bulldogs honored
Apr. 17, 2022
SEWARD, Neb. – After teammate Justin Wiersema garnered the Midlands NAIA/NCAA D-III honorary captain award from the Omaha World-Herald in 2021, Carter Kent has been recognized with the same distinction a year later. Kent and four other Concordia University Men’s Basketball student-athletes picked up Midlands Team accolades from the news outlet, as released on Sunday (April 17). Gage Smith joined Kent on the five-man team while honorable mention Midlands status went to Noah Schutte, AJ Watson and Wiersema.
The Omaha World-Herald chooses its All-Midlands team out of the pool of men’s basketball student-athletes that play at NAIA or NCAA Division III Nebraska colleges and universities. The complete team can be viewed at bottom.
As Head Coach Ben Limback told the World-Herald regarding Kent, “Statistics show he had a great year, but I think what people don't realize is the standard he had for himself throughout his career. He put in the work that allowed him to have that kind of senior season. That's what we'll miss, his leadership and his commitment to be the best.”
Kent was recognized with honorable mention status a year ago by the World-Herald. A four-time All-GPAC honoree (first team in 2021-22), Kent (Crete, Neb.) put together a senior year to remember as part of the team’s run to the national quarterfinals. He averaged 5.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 43.6 percent from the floor, 34.7 percent from beyond the arc and 83.8 percent from the foul line. The NAIA rewarded Kent with a Second Team All-America placement. Over the past four seasons, Kent did not miss a single game while playing in 126 contests (125 starts). His career totals stand at 1,699 points, 438 rebounds, 324 assists, 248 3-point field goals (.351) and 115 steals. On the program’s all-time lists, Kent ranks fifth in scoring and 3-point field goals and seventh in assists.
Like Kent, Smith was selected to the GPAC’s first team this past winter. The 6-foot-6 post from Elizabeth, Colo., averaged 13.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 rebounds per game in his fourth season with the Bulldogs. Smith shot 54.1 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from 3-point range and 72.4 percent from the foul line. In his career, Smith has compiled 964 points and 634 rebounds (10th most in program history).
Schutte (Laurel, Neb.) was recognized this past season as Honorable Mention All-GPAC and with a spot on the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship All-Tournament Team. Schutte earned a starting role in his second collegiate season and averaged 13.9 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 55.9 percent from the floor, 44.1 percent from 3-point range and 73.6 percent from the foul line. During five national tournament games, Schutte averaged 20.0 points and 9.8 rebounds.
Watson took on the starting point guard role this past season and garnered Honorable Mention All-GPAC accolades. In 34 games, averaged 9.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steal per game. The Kansas City, Kan., native 40.8 percent from the floor, 34.1 percent from 3-point range and 83.6 percent from the foul line.
Wiersema was honored with All-GPAC recognition three times in his career (first team in 2020-21). In his fourth collegiate season, the native of Loveland, Colo., averaged 11.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He shot 51.8 percent from the floor, 36.5 percent from 3-point range and 75.4 percent from the foul line. Wiersema finished his career with program all-time rankings of ninth in assists (300), 16th in rebounds (484) and 18th in scoring (1,276).
2022 NAIA/D-III Midlands Team
G, Carter Kent, Sr., Concordia
F, Josiah Gardiner, So., Doane
F, Jibril Harris, Jr., Peru State
F, Peter Lash, Fr., Neb. Wesleyan
F, Gage Smith, Sr., Concordia
Honorable mention: Bellevue: Paulo Araujo, Vinny Belcaster, Eric Pierce. Concordia: Noah Schutte, AJ Watson, Justin Wiersema. Doane: Anthony Laravie, Alec Oberhauser, Brady Timm. Hastings: Karson Gansebom, Dashawn Walker. Midland: Ryan Larsen, Laurence Merritt, Jake Rueschhoff, Bo Sandquist. Nebraska Wesleyan: Landon Torneten. Peru State: Troy Houghton, Henry Tanksley. York: Brent Clark, Keyaun Hoskin, Erik Talton.