Concordia University 70, Nebraska Wesleyan University 68 (view stats)
The Concordia University men’s basketball team snuck past Nebraska Wesleyan by the score of 70-68 on Wednesday evening in Lincoln. The Bulldogs trailed late in the game but managed to rally for the exciting win. Concordia improved to 12-6 overall and 7-2 in the GPAC with the win. Nebraska Wesleyan slipped to 5-8 overall and 3-3 in the GPAC with the loss.
The first half was tightly contested throughout. Concordia led by as many as six in the opening half and took a slim 36-32 lead into the halftime break.
The Bulldogs extended the lead early in the second half and led by as many as nine at 49-40 with just under 15 minutes remaining in the contest. However, Nebraska Wesleyan came all the way back, and a layup by Bryce Arp gave the Prairie Wolves a 68-67 lead with just over two minutes remaining.
After turnovers by each team, Concordia tied the game at 68-68 on a Tyler Byrd free throw with 40 seconds remaining. Following another Wesleyan turnover, Concordia’s Porter Birtell scored off an assist by Byrd to give the Bulldogs a 70-68 lead with only four seconds left to play. Nebraska Wesleyan had one final chance to tie or win the game. However, Nick Dinan missed a shot in the final second, and the Bulldogs escaped with the 70-68 win.
Concordia was 25-of-50 from the field for an even 50 percent. The Bulldogs were 10-of-20 from behind the three point line and 10-of-13 from the free throw line for 76.9 percent. Nebraska Wesleyan was 22-of-42 from the field on the evening for 52.4 percent. The Prairie Wolves were 4-of-7 from three point land for 57.1 percent and a stellar 20-of-23 from the free throw line for 87 percent. Both teams finished with 25 rebounds and 15 turnovers. Each team finished with 28 points in the paint. Wesleyan had 24 points off turnovers compared to 18 for Concordia.
Ryan Railey went 5-of-11 from behind the three point line and scored 15 points to lead a balanced Concordia offensive attack. Tyler Byrd added 14 points and a game-high four assists. Porter Birtell scored 12 points and connected on the game-winning field goal for Concordia, while Sam Huebner added a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulldogs.
Bryce Arp scored 15 points to lead four players in double figures for Nebraska Wesleyan. Jim Lance and Jake Spurgeon each scored 12 points, and Ryan Thramer added 11 points for the Prairie Wolves.
Concordia returns home to host Morningside College on Jan. 16 in a 4 p.m. contest at the Health, Human Performance and Athletic Center.