Concordia University 69, Doane College 66 (view stats)
Concordia University rallied for a 69-66 men’s basketball win over Doane College on Wednesday evening in Crete. Concordia won its eighth straight game and is now 16-6 overall and 11-2 in GPAC play this season. Doane slipped to 5-15 overall and 4-8 in conference play with the loss.
Concordia never led in the first half of play. Doane connected on 15-of-24 shots from the field in the first 20 minutes and took a 39-28 lead into halftime. Concordia again used a huge second half to get back into the game.
The Bulldogs chipped away at the Doane lead in the early minutes of the second half. Concordia took its first lead of the game (48-47) on a three pointer by Tyler Byrd with just under 10 minutes remaining in the contest. Doane responded with a 9-0 run to grab a 56-48 lead with just over seven minutes remaining in the game.
Concordia seized momentum with less than five minutes to play in regulation. Doane held a 60-55 lead. However, a three pointer by Byrd pulled Concordia within two at 60-58. On the next Bulldog possession, Ryan Railey hit a three pointer and was fouled on the play. Railey hit the free throw to give Concordia a 62-60 lead.
Doane tied the game at 62-62, but back-to-back layups by Sam Huebner gave Concordia a 66-62 lead with two minutes remaining in the contest. Doane pulled within two at 66-64 on a basket by Jens Scholl, but two made free throws by Huebner extended the Bulldog lead back to four at 68-64 with less than a minute to play.
Doane again pulled within two at 68-66 on a basket by Zach Moult with 30 seconds remaining. Concordia’s Brandon Schmidt hit one of two from the foul line to give the Bulldogs a 69-66 lead with time winding down. Doane had one final attempt to tie the game. However, Scholl’s three point attempt was blocked, and Concordia secured the 69-66 victory.
Concordia was 27-of-57 from the field in the win for 47.4 percent. The Bulldogs were 8-of-22 from three point land for 36.4 percent and 7-of-12 at the foul line for 58.3 percent. Concordia held a 30-20 advantage in points in the paint. The Bulldogs also scored 23 second chance points compared to just eight for the Tigers.
Doane was 26-of-45 from the field for 57.8 percent. The Tigers were 6-of-14 from behind the three point line for 42.9 percent and 8-of-13 from the foul line for 61.5 percent.
Concordia was led by Ryan Railey’s 20 points. Railey hit five 3-pointers and added two assists. Sam Huebner added 15 points on the night. Porter Birtell scored 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field, while Tyler Byrd added 12 points for the Bulldogs in the win.
Jens Scholl had 19 points and eight boards for Doane. Trent Schlautman added 14 points, and Zach Moult had 10 points for the Tigers.
Concordia will compete in the Concordia Invitational Tournament on Friday and Saturday in Wisconsin.