SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Basketball will have had 10 straight days without a game by the time the ball is tipped off at the St. Francis Fighting Saints New Year’s Classic. The Bulldogs will finish the year 2025 by playing two games outside of league play at the aforementioned event in the Chicago area. They will then ring in 2026 by hosting Northwestern in a pivotal conference matchup. Most recently, Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad lit up the scoreboard in a 101-88 win at MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.) on Dec. 19. Concordia stands at 9-4 overall (5-2 GPAC).
This Week
St. Francis Fighting Saints New Year’s Classic: Dec. 30-31
Tuesday, Dec. 30 at St. Francis (8-2), 1 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Pat Sullivan Center (Joliet, Ill.)
Wednesday, Dec. 31 vs. Governors State (7-4), 1 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Pat Sullivan Center (Joliet, Ill.)
Saturday, Jan. 3 vs. No. 17 Northwestern (13-3, 5-3 GPAC), 3:45 p.m.
--104.9 Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· A seven-game winning streak vaulted the Bulldogs to No. 24 in the NAIA coaches’ poll released on Nov. 26. Concordia then fell out of the top 25 in the poll announced on Dec. 17 after it dropped back-to-back league games (on the road to Midland and Dordt). The NAIA most recently unveiled an official RPI back on Dec. 15. In the RPI, the Bulldogs landed at No. 70 with a strength of schedule listed at No. 123. Those rankings contrast drastically with Massey Ratings, which ranks Concordia at No. 16 in the NAIA with an SOS of 12th.
· The Bulldogs went into the Christmas break on a high note thanks to a sterling offensive performance in Olathe, Kan., on Dec. 19. Concordia jumped out to a 9-0 lead on the Pioneers and built a 21-point second half lead before holding off a late charge. The Bulldogs won, 101-88, while shooting 63.2 percent (36-for-57) from the field. Backcourt standouts Dane Jacobsen and Brooks Kissinger came through with 24 points apiece while Jaxon Stueve (19) and Tate Odvody (14) also hit double figures in scoring. After having struggled from the free throw line, Kissinger went 14-for-18 from the charity stripe at MidAmerica Nazarene. Concordia shot 20-for-26 (.769) as a team from the foul line. The Bulldogs managed to topple the Pioneers for the second year in a row. Concordia reached 100 points for the third time this season.
· Roughly halfway through the 2025-26 season, the Ashland, Neb., native Kissinger has established himself as one of the GPAC’s top players. Through 12 games (one missed due to injury), Kissinger is averaging 19.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 58.7 percent from the floor. Among GPAC players, Kissinger ranks third in scoring average, fifth in rebounds per game, sixth in field goal percentage and 14th in assists per game. As part of an incredibly consistent junior campaign, Kissinger has scored 20 or more points eight times with a high of 31 coming versus Oklahoma City University on Nov. 7.
· The 24 points in the MNU win marked a career high for Jacobsen, also an Ashland native (and a high school teammate of Kissinger). After coming off the bench as a role player in his freshman season of 2024-25, Jacobsen has taken on the starting point guard role in 2025-26 and has thrived. He is averaging 12.6 points, 4.8 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 48.8 percent from 3-point range (third best among GPAC players). Jacobsen’s seamless transition into an increased role has been a major reason for Concordia’s offensive efficiency – 85.3 points per game on 50.2 percent shooting from the field.
· As part of a balanced offensive attack, five Bulldogs are averaging double figures in scoring: Kissinger (19.8), Jacobsen (12.6), Stueve (12.4), Odvody (11.1) and Zac Kulus (10.5). Among these Bulldogs, Kulus is the lone senior. Three players have started each of the first 13 games: Jacobsen, Stueve and Logan Wilson (6.8 ppg / 5.5 rpg). The bench has been bolstered this season by the additions of freshmen Jacob Duitsman and Garret Johnson. Concordia continues to take things slow with junior Hayden Frank, who missed this season’s first eight games due to injury. Others who have provided depth include the likes of Peyton Brown, MJ Coffey, Tyler Harre and Jerry Ingison.
· Among GPAC squads, Concordia sports team rankings of first in field goal percentage defense (.441), first in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.306), second in scoring defense (73.6), third in scoring offense (85.3), fourth in field goal percentage offense (.502), fourth in 3-point field goal percentage offense (.394) and ninth in free throw percentage (.677). The Bulldogs also rank second in the GPAC (to Northwestern) in net efficiency.
· The entire GPAC has taken a break from conference play. Heading into the new year, Morningside currently leads the conference race with a 6-1 league mark. Next in line are Concordia (5-2), Mount Marty (5-3), Northwestern (5-3), Briar Cliff (4-3), Dordt (4-3) and Midland (4-3). Northwestern is the only GPAC team with a top 25 ranking (at No. 17). The conference matchups this coming Saturday, other than Concordia-Northwestern, are Dakota Wesleyan at Midland, Dordt at Hastings, Briar Cliff at Doane and Morningside at Mount Marty.
Concordia Projected Starting Five
G – Dane Jacobsen, 6-3 (12.6)
G – Brooks Kissinger, 6-3 (19.8)
G – Jaxon Stueve, 6-4 (12.4)
F – Tate Odvody, 6-4 (11.1)
F – Logan Wilson, 6-7 (6.8)
Head Coach Ben Limback, 13th season (241-145 at CUNE)
The opponents
The University of St. Francis swept Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles last season and qualified for the national tournament (finished 25-6 overall). Head Coach Ryan Marks’ 2025-26 roster has been revamped after saying goodbye to first team all-conference forward Aitor Anabitarte and second team all-conference wing Rahmel Davis. The Fighting Saints have started this season at 8-2 while led by 16.2 points per game from senior guard Joffrey Nunnally. In the most recent NAIA RPI, St. Francis appeared at No. 63. As a team, the Fighting Saints are averaging 72.9 points while shooting 48.6 percent from the field. Their opponents are averaging 68.3 points to go with a 45.4 shooting percentage. The starting lineup includes three players who stand 6-foot-6 or taller.
St. Francis Projected Starting Five
G – Joffrey Nunnally, 6-2 (16.2)
G – Delshawn Simms, 5-9 (7.3)
F – Coleton Hansen, 6-6 (7.9)
F – Damarcies Moore, 6-6 (10.6)
F/C – Brady Cooper, 6-7 (6.9)
Head Coach: Ryan Marks, 13th season
Governors State University has started this season at 7-4 overall after finishing the 2024-25 campaign with a 15-16 record. During the 11-year tenure of Head Coach Tony Bates, the Jaguars experienced their most successful season in 2017-18 when they swept Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles and earned a spot in the national tournament (25-9 overall record). The current team plays an up-tempo style and averages 86.6 points per game with a shooting percentage of 47.6. The team’s top scorer has been senior guard Maxwell Marius, who averages 17.0 points per game. Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 83.0 points on the strength of 46.6 percent shooting. Governors State has played one GPAC team this season. It earned a 105-88 win over Waldorf. The Jaguars will take on Vermont State Randolph on Tuesday before playing Concordia.
Governors State Projected Starting Five
G – Javon Johnson, 6-2 (13.4)
G – Maxwell Marius, 6-2 (17.0)
G – Javonte McKenzie, 6-4 (8.1)
G – Isaiah Tolbert, 6-2 (13.5)
F/C – Vincent Mayes, 6-7 (11.2)
Head Coach: Tony Bates, 11th season
Northwestern was the GPAC’s preseason favorite and is the lone GPAC team currently ranked in the NAIA coaches’ top 25. The Red Raiders boast the nation’s No. 1 and No. 3 scorers in Jesse Van Kalsbeek (29.6) and Jalen Langsy (26.8), respectively. As a team, Northwestern leads the NAIA in scoring average (95.7) and field goal percentage offense (.560). The Red Raiders started 1-3 in GPAC play before rebounding with four straight wins (over Hastings, Waldorf, Midland and Dakota Wesleyan). One of the losses came at home at the hands of Concordia, 78-73, on Nov. 22. Former Northwestern star Colton Kooima has taken over as head coach, replacing the highly successful Kris Korver (574 wins over 25 seasons), winner of two national championships. The Red Raiders will be knocking off the rust inside Friedrich Arena after a two-week holiday break. Northwestern has fallen in each of its past eight trips to Seward, dating back to the 2018-19 season.
Northwestern Projected Starting Five
G – Kaleb Booth, 6-0 (9.0)
G – Manny Hammonds, 6-3 (9.8)
G – Jalen Langsy, 6-1 (26.8)
F – Brennan Reid, 6-7 (6.2)
F – Jesse Van Kalsbeek, 6-6 (29.6)
Head Coach: Colton Kooima, 1st season
Up next
Conference play will heat up with a return to regular Wednesday-Saturday action. The Bulldogs will be headed to Morningside on Jan. 7 before hosting Briar Cliff on Jan. 10. It’ll be conference play for the remainder of the regular season once the calendar flips to 2026.