SEWARD, Neb. – Superior sharp shooting launched the Bulldogs into the lead in the opening half as the home squad dropped 18 treys from almost 50 percent from three inside Friedrich Arena on Saturday (Dec. 6). All five starters hit double figures as Brooks Kissinger (20 points) and Zac Kulus (19) led the way in the 103-71 triumphant performance.
For the first time in his tenure, Head Coach Ben Limback and company have reached 5-0 in conference play and are 8-2 overall on a seven-game winning streak.
“Offensively, we were really good,” Coach Limback said. “Just taking care of the basketball and getting shots up. We weren’t sharp at the free throw line, but every other part of the offense was balanced. If I had my way and they had their way, we would run our offense with no coaching involved. The goal is to get out quick and make good decisions. We did a lot of that this game. This team is an unselfish group. They played hard, and it was an outstanding effort. Dakota Wesleyan is a good basketball team.”
A little back-and-forth action had the Tigers up 21-18 after almost eight minutes of play. The Bulldogs stepped on the gas on both sides of the floor producing a 17-0 run that started with back-to-back baskets by Kissinger and ended with five of Logan Wilson’s 11 points.
BK kept the bucket boiling with a special delivery of 15 opening frame points, which pushed the home bench to a 20-point (51-31) first-half lead.
Out of the lockerooms, Concordia gashed Dakota Wesleyan with a 21-4 drive building an insurmountable lead (69-38) with Stueve pacing the trip with eight of his 15 total on the stat sheet. Stueve and Kulus would both go 4-for-6 from beyond the arc in the second frame as the Bennington, Neb., native mounted 19 in the contest.
“You know, it's always nice to get a win,” Stueve said. “Dak Wes is a good team, but it felt good for us. Tate was out, so we kinda scrambled to get Zac, and he played great. It was a team effort for all of us. Just really proud.”
The offense shot 56.3 (36-for-64) percent from the field and 48.6 percent from an archer’s range. Making a huge effort on the boards, the Bulldogs outrebounded the Tigers, 42-28, ballooning its largest lead to 37.
The starting lineup delivered in multiple categories with Kissinger (eight rebounds, four assists) out front. Kulus (four assists, four steals), Stueve (four rebs, three assists), Dane Jacobsen (12 points, four assists, three rebounds) and Wilson (three rebounds, three assists). Jacob Duitsman tacked on seven points and four rebounds.
No. 24 Concordia (8-2, 5-0 GPAC) will be on the road for the next five contests, starting with the easiest trip to Midland (5-5, 3-2 GPAC) on Wednesday (Dec. 10). The Bulldogs will take the court in Wikert Event Center at 7:45 CT. CUNE defeated the Warriors all three times last season.