Late 3-point play gives Hastings 69-68 win over Concordia
A late 3-point play by Brady Lollman lifted Hastings College to a 69-68 men’s basketball win over Concordia on Wednesday evening in Hastings. Concordia held a 68-66 lead with just 15 seconds remaining, but the Bulldogs were unable to get the final stop they needed. Hastings improved to 10-10 (4-6 GPAC) with the victory. Concordia dropped its second straight to fall to 8-9 (4-6 GPAC).
The Bulldogs controlled play early on and led by eight on two separate occasions. Concordia maintained a 7-point advantage (21-14) with just over 11 minutes remaining in the half. Things got away from the Bulldogs, however, as Hastings answered with a 15-0 run over the next five minutes to take a 29-21 lead. The Broncos built the lead to 13 (38-25). A 7-0 run by Concordia pulled the Bulldogs within six (38-32) heading into halftime. Concordia managed just 11-of-28 shooting overall (39.3 percent) and 4-of-14 shooting from deep (28.6 percent) in the opening 20 minutes of play.
After Concordia pulled within two early in the second half, Hastings responded and held a lead of at least five for much of the half. The Bulldogs rallied and pulled within three (66-63) on a pair of made free throws by Joel Haywood (Lakewood, Colo.) with less than three minutes remaining in the contest. Following a turnover and missed jumper by the Broncos, Beau Smith (McKinney, Texas) tied the game with a 3-pointer with just over a minute left in regulation.
Both teams traded missed shots down the stretch, but Hastings got possession in search of a final shot. Following two timeouts, Concordia’s Adam Vogt (Syracuse, Neb.) stole a pass and went the length of the court for a layup. Vogt’s score gave Concordia a 68-66 advantage with 15 seconds to play. Hastings didn’t call a timeout. Lollman scored off the glass and was fouled with seven seconds remaining. His free throw put the Broncos back on top. A jumper by Vogt in the closing seconds was blocked by Jake Marvin, and the Broncos held on for the victory.
Tobin Reinwald led four Hastings players in double figures with 15 points. Lollman added 11, while Marvin and Dylan Flinn added 10 apiece. Hastings was 24-of-60 (41.2 percent) from the field overall, 5-of-19 (26.3 percent) from deep and 16-of-20 (80 percent) at the foul line in the victory. Hastings held a slim 35-31 rebounding advantage in the contest.
Porter Birtell (Madison, Neb.), who just earned his second GPAC Player-of-the-Week honor on Monday, had another solid game for the Bulldogs in a losing effort. The junior posted game-highs with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Birtell was 6-of-9 from the field and 8-of-10 at the foul line on the night. Tyler Byrd (Bennington, Neb.) added 12 points on four 3-pointers, and Smith delivered 14 points and five boards. Concordia finished the game at 41.5 percent from the field (22-of-53). The Bulldogs were 9-of-22 from deep (40.9 percent) and 15-of-18 (83.3 percent) from the foul line.
The Bulldogs continue GPAC play on the road at Morningside College this Saturday.