SEWARD, Neb. – A new-look Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Basketball team found a shot of confidence at the 26th annual Cattle Classic, seizing a pair of nonconference wins. In their first two home games of 2025-26, the Bulldogs defeated Oklahoma City University, 87-76, and Clarke University (Iowa), 107-68. Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad will have had a week of preparation by the time it opens GPAC play by hosting Waldorf on Saturday. Concordia stands at 3-2 through five nonconference contests.
This Week
Saturday, Nov. 15 vs. Waldorf (3-3, 0-0 GPAC), 4:45 p.m.
--104.9 Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· After three games away from home to open the season, the Bulldogs hosted Oklahoma City and Clarke for the 26th annual Cattle Classic (Nov. 7-8). In making his first start of the season, junior Brooks Kissinger enjoyed a breakout performance with a career-high 31 points (to go with eight rebounds and three assists) on 13-for-19 shooting from the floor. Three other starters also reached double figures in scoring: Jaxon Stueve (14), Tate Odvody (13) and Dane Jacobsen (11). The next day, Concordia blew away Clarke while draining 23 treys on 49 attempts. There were five double figure scorers: Kissinger (18), MJ Coffey (14), Garret Johnson (14), Logan Wilson (14) and Zac Kulus (11). Kissinger added eight rebounds and eight assists in a near triple-double outing. Coffey, Johnson and Wilson each knocked down four triples.
· The 23 3-point field goals made in the win over Clarke are believed to be a school record for a single game (based on available records). The previous high during Ben Limback’s 13-year head coaching tenure was 20 treys made by the Bulldogs in a 90-77 win at Northwestern in the GPAC quarterfinals on Feb. 22, 2023. Noah Schutte broke an individual school record (still intact) that day by canning nine 3-point field goals. Dating back a bit farther, one of the most impressive 3-point shooting displays in school history occurred in the 2009 GPAC quarterfinals when Concordia went 19-for-25 from beyond the arc and defeated Briar Cliff in overtime, 101-97. Tyler Byrd made all six of his 3-point tries in that contest.
· The Ashland, Neb., native Kissinger appears ready to step into the spotlight. His Cattle Classic weekend efforts were eye-popping, as he posted a combined 49 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists in 60 minutes of action. Kissinger went 20-for-32 (.625) from the floor and ‘wowed’ the crowd with two dunks over the top of defenders in the win over Oklahoma City. Kissinger skyrocketed his season scoring average to a team high 17.3 points. Kissinger was named to the All-Cattle Classic team along with Jaxon Stueve. In the offseason, Kissinger became a married man.
· Kissinger missed the season opener due to injury but has played in each of the past four outings. His first start came at the Cattle Classic. He was joined in the opening five by guards Dane Jacobsen and Jaxon Stueve and forwards Tate Odvody and Logan Wilson. Stueve is the lone returning starter from the 2024-25 team that reached the second round of the national tournament. In tight moments, the starters have logged the majority of minutes. Off the bench, senior Zac Kulus also plays a vital role. In taking over the point guard role, Jacobsen is averaging 11.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
· Despite qualifying for the national tournament in four straight years and in five of the past six seasons, the Bulldogs began this season off the national radar. Concordia did not receive votes in the NAIA preseason poll. That fact is likely due to the departures of All-Americans Noah Schutte and Tristan Smith. The latter is now starting at the University of Northern Iowa. Notably, the Bulldogs vaulted 14 spots to No. 33 in the most updated NAIA Massey Ratings. The formula judges Concordia to have the nation’s 10th most efficient offense to this point.
· Top of the GPAC finishes have become commonplace in recent years for the Bulldogs. They shared the GPAC regular season title in both 2021-22 and 2023-24 and won GPAC tournament titles in 2020 and 2022. Concordia has placed fifth or higher in the GPAC standings in each of the past six seasons. This past 2024-25 team tied for second in the regular season and then advanced to the GPAC tournament title game (lost to Morningside).
Concordia Projected Starting Five
G – Dane Jacobsen, 6-3 (11.6)
G – Brooks Kissinger, 6-3 (17.3)
G – Jaxon Stueve, 6-4 (9.6)
F – Tate Odvody, 6-4 (10.0)
F – Logan Wilson, 6-7 (8.4)
The opponent
Waldorf is looking for improvement in its second season as a GPAC member. The Warriors finished 2024-25 at 3-24 overall (2-18 GPAC). Waldorf announced Michael Wirth as its head coach back in March. The Warriors stand at 3-3 while dipping outside of the NAIA for each of their three victories this season. Four Waldorf players are averaging in double figures: Conner Aldridge (16.4), Nick Graves (16.3), Krys Watley (13.0) and Keon Alexander (10.2). The Warriors are averaging 86.5 points per game while allowing 81.5. In last season’s meetings, Concordia defeated Waldorf by scores of 103-79 (Forest City, Iowa) and 97-63 (Seward).
Waldorf Projected Starting Five
G – Cohen Aldridge, 6-4 (16.4)
G – Nick Graves, 6-3 (16.3)
G – Cartier Parr, 6-1 (5.5)
G – Krys Watley, 6-5 (13.0)
F – Emmanuel Ferguson, 6-5 (5.5)
Next week
The Bulldogs will take on NCAA Division I University of Nebraska Omaha on Nov. 19 in what will be considered an exhibition for Concordia. GPAC play will then resume on Nov. 22 with a trip to No. 8 Northwestern.