SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia men’s basketball team is set to travel to Dordt College for this week’s only contest. The game is slated to begin at 7 p.m. at Sioux Center, Iowa.
GAME INFO
(RV) Concordia University (8-3, 4-3 GPAC) at (RV) Dordt College (8-6, 4-3 GPAC)
Friday, Dec. 18 | 7 p.m. CDT
Site: De Witt Gymnasium | Sioux Center, Iowa
Webcast: Live Stream
Live Stats: DakStats
Radio: 104.9 Max Country
Last time out
In the type of GPAC barn burner that has characterized the early conference season, the Concordia University men’s basketball team held off red-hot Dordt inside Walz Arena on Wednesday night. In an overtime contest that had onlookers reaching for the Pepto-Bismol, the combo of Jamie Pearson and Chandler Folkerts lifted the Bulldogs to a 100-95 win.
The Concordia University men’s basketball team weathered Mount Marty’s hot outside shooting and rolled up a 94-79 victory inside Walz Arena on Saturday afternoon. The visiting Lancers, winless in conference play, had no answer for the three-headed Bulldog monster of Chandler Folkerts, Jamie Pearson and Robby Thomas.
Quotable
“I’m just so proud of the guys. This wasn’t a clean fight. We didn’t do exactly what we needed to do all the time. The two keys were getting to the free throw line and rebounding. Whoever was going to do that the best was going to win. We got more free throws than they did and we rebounded well for the most part. It was just a well-fought game.”
-Head coach Ben Limback
“It was big time. Losing the last two we just wanted to come back home and make a good impression in front of our fans. We wanted to let them know that we’re still playing hard. We wanted to play Bulldog basketball and get a big win.”
-Senior Jamie Pearson
Seeing double
So far this season, Concordia has had two Bulldogs record two double-doubles.
Chandler Folkerts – 26 points, 13 rebounds vs Bellevue on Nov. 6
Robby Thomas – 12 points, 11 rebounds vs Bellevue on Nov. 6
Chandler Folkerts – 11 points, 10 rebounds at Hastings on Nov. 18
Robby Thomas – 13 points, 10 rebounds at Doane on No. 24
Rankings in the GPAC
As a team in the GPAC, the Bulldogs lead in blocks per game (4.54) and total blocks (50), are tied for first in free throw percentage (.746), rank second in field goal percentage defense (.425), rank third in scoring margin (8.36) and defensive rebounds per game (28.91), rank fourth in scoring defense per game (80.46), field goal percentage (.490), total rebound offense per game (40.64), total rebound defense per game (35.64), total rebound margin (5.0) and steals per game (6.91) and rank fifth in scoring offense per game (88.82), 3-point field goal percentage defense (.366), offensive rebounds per game (10.82), assists per game (16.91), 3-point field goals made per game (9.46) and assist/ turnover ratio (1.20).
Chandler Folkerts – points per game, 10th (16.82); field goal percentage, first (.621); blocks per game, tied for fourth (1.18); total blocks, tied for fourth (13); double-doubles, tied for ninth (2); game-high rebounds, tied for 10th (13)
Jamie Pearson – points per game, third (24.36); total points, third (268); field goal percentage, fifth (.557); 3-point field goal percentage, 10th (.433); free throw percentage, third (.849); 3-point field goals made per game (2.64); total 3-point field goals made (29); steals per game, tied for seventh (1.54); total steals, tied for ninth (17); assists per game, sixth (4.18); total assists, tied for eighth (46); game-high scoring, tied for third (37) and tied for sixth (36 - twice)
Robby Thomas – field goal percentage, tied for seventh (.549); free throw percentage, seventh (.824); total rebounds per game, fourth (8.0); total rebounds, eighth (88); defensive rebounds per game, third (6.73); blocks per game, first (2.36); total blocks, first (26); double-doubles, tied for ninth (2)
Rankings in the nation
In NAIA Division II, Concordia ranks 11th in blocks per game (4.545), 16th in scoring offense per game (88.818) and in free throw percentage (.746), and 17th in field goal percentage (.490), total blocks (50) and defensive rebounds per game (29.909). Individual top-20 rankings in the nation are listed below.
Chandler Folkerts – field goal percentage, ninth (.621)
Jamie Pearson – total scoring, 11th (268); points per game (24.364)
Robby Thomas – blocks per game, seventh (2.364); total blocks, eighth (26); defensive rebounds per game, 20th (6.727)
Scouting the Dordt College Defenders
The Defenders of Dordt College own an 8-6, 4-3 GPAC mark this year. The Defenders and Bulldogs have met up once this year already. On Dec. 9, CUNE came out on top in a 100-95 overtime win. Most recently, Dordt defeated Doane, 80-76 on Dec. 12. As a team, the Defenders average 86.2 points and 43.6 rebounds a contest. While holding its opponents to a .430 field goal percentage, Dordt shoots .471 from the field and .346 from behind the arc. Two of the Defenders’ starters are averaging double-digit scoring marks this year, Nathan rondels (15.6) and Leighton Sampson (14.4). The Defenders are led by head coach Ross Douma who is in his seventh season at Dordt. Douma is assisted by Derek Keizer, Kyle Hiemstra and Ben Van Wyk.
Up next for the Bulldogs
The Concordia men’s basketball team will visit California for its next match-ups. On Tuesday, Dec. 29, the Bulldogs will take on Simpson University (Calif.) at 10 p.m. CDT. Then on Wednesday, Dec. 30, CUNE’s opponent will be California Maritime Academy with tipoff slated for 6 p.m. CDT.