JOLIET, Ill. – Brooks Kissinger and the Dawg offense came alive in the second stanza shooting a white-hot 73.3 percent from the floor to pounce on Governors State University (Ill.), 83-70, at the St. Francis Fighting Saints New Year’s Classic on Wednesday (Dec. 31). After tallying an abysmal 26 points in the opening 20 minutes, Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Basketball piled 57 in the second. Kissinger was unstoppable making 19 of his 23 total points in the latter stanza.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad went 2-0 at the classic moving its record to 11-4 overall in 2025.
“We just didn’t come out aggressive in the first half,” Coach Limback said. “Anytime the other team shows up, then they’re the aggressor. It makes it tough. I felt like, overall we guarded well enough and rebounded enough to sustain our offensive struggles. In the second half, we moved the ball, cut harder and started to play better offensively, getting into rhythm. I thought Dane Jacobsen was good in the first half to keep us going. Obviously, everybody was good in the second half. Once we found a rhythm, it allowed Brooks to get going and shooters to get open. The emphasis in the second was to relax and know the three is going in the next half.”
CUNE trailed for virtually the first 27 minutes of the contest. With the game tied (46-46) at the 12:08 mark after the break, the Bulldogs went on a 20-4 run bolstered by Kissinger’s 13 points in the onslaught. In the stretch, the defense clamped down on the Jaguars and the offense attacked the paint with Kissinger and all five of Logan Wilson’s points. An Ashland, Neb., native, Kissinger went a perfect 7-for-7 from the field in the second half and 4-for-6 from the charity stripe.
Before Concordia stormed ahead in the ending stanza, Dane Jacobsen kept the Dawgs afloat amidst the team’s 29.0 (9-for-31) percent shooting from the floor. Jacobsen rallied with almost half (11) of the Dawgs point total. The squad’s 21 initial rebounds (38 total) and solid defense kept them within striking distance of Governors State.
Kissinger (8-for-13), Jacobsen (7-for-11), Jaxon Stueve (5-for-7) and Hayden Frank (4-for-6) led Concordia in scoring at a 64.8 shooting clip. Stueve hit double figures (14) and Frank was one shy (nine). The ball hawks off the boards were paced by Kissinger (seven), Jacobsen (five) and Wilson (four).
The Bulldogs held the Jaguars to 20.0 (4-for-20) percent from three and 43.5 percent from field goal range. In the white uniforms, Concordia (82.5) edged Governors State (80.0) in free throw percentage and rebounds (38-32).
The Jags (8-5) relied on three in double-digits including Javon Johnson (15), Vincent Mayes (14) and Maxwell Marius (13). Governors State will look to rebound against University of St. Francis in University Park, Ill.
Concordia (11-4, 5-2 GPAC) will bring in the new year by facing No. 17 Northwestern (13-3, 5-3 GPAC) on Saturday (Jan. 3) inside Friedrich Arena. The Bulldogs will come out of the locker rooms at 3:45 p.m. CT. CUNE defeated the Red Raiders in Orange City on Nov. 22, 78-73.