SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The rematch of last season’s GPAC Championship Game had all the intensity of a postseason contest. Like prize fighters, Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Basketball and Morningside traded blows down the stretch at the Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center. Ultimately, the Mustangs outgunned the Bulldogs, 91-87, in a shootout that saw both teams blister the nets at clips of 55 percent or better on Wednesday (Jan. 7) evening. The two sides entered the night holding down the top two spots in the GPAC standings.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad saw a four-game winning streak snapped. Concordia stands at 12-5 overall (6-3 GPAC).
“That was a great basketball game,” Limback said. “Both teams were competing at a high level. They shot the lights out, as they normally do, especially at home. I feel for our guys. There’s a lot of disappointment. We didn’t execute well enough down the stretch. There’s not a lot of margin for error in a game like this when it’s so heavy offensively. We had a couple bad switches and a couple missed free throws down the stretch. To be in that situation is good, but we have to be better down the stretch, myself included.”
There were 15 lead changes in the latest Concordia-Morningside pulse pounder. The final one occurred with just over a minute remaining when the Mustangs’ Caleb Dreckman drove to the bucket and emerged with a three-point play. Morningside led 87-85 at the time and later salted the game away at the foul line, going four-for-four from the charity stripe in the closing 30 seconds. On the other side, the Bulldogs missed two critical foul shots in the final minute.
Dreckman and Alex Wilcoxson (13 points apiece in the second half) led the charge for a Mustang squad that shot 67.9 percent (19-for-28) from the floor after halftime. Their offensive exploits helped Morningside overcome another monster effort from Concordia star Brooks Kissinger, who tallied 29 points (18 in the second half). Kissinger made 11-of-14 shots and added seven rebounds and four assists to his stat line. Meanwhile, Dreckman and Kaden Van Regenmorter supplied 20 points apiece to pace their side.
A Bulldog frontcourt that was minus starter Tate Odvody got even thinner in the first half when Logan Wilson was whistled for his third foul at the 8:46 mark. Concordia weathered the storm and shot 55.0 percent (33-for-60) and held a 30-25 rebounding edge for the evening. Kissinger was joined by three teammates in double figures: Jaxon Stueve (18), Zac Kulus (11) and Dane Jacobsen (11). Eight points apiece were delivered by Wilson and Hayden Frank. The Bulldogs enjoyed their final advantage, 85-84, of the night when Kulus drove for a layup at the 1:25 mark.
Said Limback, “This was a tough road game. Obviously they’re a great basketball team. We weren’t afraid of the moment – that’s an important part of this process. I love these guys. Peyton Brown comes in. He hadn’t seen the floor for a while, and I thought he did some great things when we needed it. That’s what I love about this team. We’re going to take this loss hard, but I know our guys will be ready to get back to work.”
The GPAC leading Mustangs (11-5, 8-1 GPAC) showcase a revamped starting lineup, but the firepower remains. The quartet of Daniel Brocaille, Dreckman, Van Regenmorter and Wilcoxson combined for 75 points on Wednesday. Their efforts allowed Morningside to rally back after Concordia made its first eight shots from the floor. Brocaille and Van Regenmorter drained four triples apiece. The Mustangs continue to have the Bulldogs’ number after taking all three meetings in 2024-25.
The Bulldogs will return to Friedrich Arena on Saturday to host Briar Cliff (9-7, 6-3 GPAC). Game time is slated for 3:45 p.m. CT. Concordia will attempt to extend its current seven-game series win streak over the Chargers. In Wednesday's action, Briar Cliff protected its home court with a 76-63 victory over Midland.