The Concordia University men's basketball team gave the No. 1 team in the nation all it could handle in a 78-69 overtime loss to the Morningside College Mustangs on Saturday afternoon in GPAC action at the Doghouse.
The Bulldogs came out on fire, jumping out to a 15-5 lead in first four minutes, but the Mustangs used a quick 9-0 run to jump back within one at 15-14. The two teams traded runs and bucket to end the half tied at 39-39.
Concordia came out of halftime again playing inspired basketball trailing only once at the seventeen minute mark, 45-43. The Bulldogs lead grew to as many as nine and held steady at eight with three minutes remaining in the second half. The Bulldogs failed to score in the final 3:19. The Mustangs saw an opening and took advantage. Morningside sank their free throws and knocked down a big free three pointer, and with 1:23 remaining Thomas Pargett knocked down two free throws to tie the score at 65-65.
With :30 seconds after a Bulldog turnover the Mustangs looked to the final shot, Jack Rother looked to drive against Tyler Bredehoeft but as Rother made his move with less than :10 seconds remaining he slipped and was called for traveling that gave the Bulldogs a chance with :03 seconds remaining in the second half.
Benjamin Buhr keyed the ball in to Bredehoeft in the back court, Bredehoeft worked of a screen from Scott Hannon and had an open look from just beyond three-point line, but his attempt rimmed out to send the game to overtime.
The Bulldogs looked to have turned around the cold shooting as Bredehoeft sank a runner in the lane to put Concordia up 67-58. The tide would quickly turn as the Mustangs went on a 13-2 run to finish out the overtime period to claim the victory 78-69.
The loss drops the Bulldogs to 9-15 and 3-10 in the GPAC while the win moves the Mustangs to 23-0 and 12-0 in conference play.
The Bulldogs were led offensively by Hannon and Bredehoeft, with 17 points each. Buhr added 15 points.
Morningside was led by Nick Thompsen with 16 points, Seth Adkins added 13 points and nine rebounds for the Mustangs.
The Bulldogs will next head to Fremont, Neb. for a Tuesday evening match up with the Warriors of Midland Lutheran College at 7:30 p.m.
Complete Box Score
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