SEWARD, Neb. – The winning streak lives on as the Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Basketball team returns home following a dominant run through the 72nd Concordia Invitational Tournament. The Bulldogs celebrated the program’s 31st all-time CIT championship after cruising past Concordia Chicago, 90-71, and Concordia Ann Arbor, 88-45, at Cardinal Fieldhouse in Ann Arbor, Mich. Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad has won 10-straight games overall and owns a nine-game winning streak within conference play. The Bulldogs enter this week at 17-4 overall (10-3 GPAC) as they prepare for a road trip to Midland and a home matchup with Waldorf.
This Week
Wednesday, Jan. 29 at Midland (10-12, 5-9 GPAC), 7:45 p.m.
--104.9 Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Wikert Events Center (Fremont, Neb.)
Saturday, Feb. 1 vs. Waldorf (3-18, 2-12 GPAC), 3:45 p.m.
--104.9 Max Country | Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
· Officially, CUNE is unranked in the NAIA coaches’ poll (receiving votes), but is set to skyrocket in the poll that will be released on Wednesday (Jan. 29). In the latest NAIA RPI unveiled on Monday, the Bulldogs appeared at No. 11 with a strength of schedule rated 20th best in the NAIA. They were also placed atop the NAIA’s North-Central ARC Ratings. In the current GPAC standings, CUNE sits in a tie for second with Northwestern behind frontrunner Dordt (20-1, 12-1 GPAC). The only blemish on the Defenders’ record remains the 99-72 blowout endured at Friedrich Arena on Jan. 4. Dordt is the GPAC’s highest rated team in the RPI at No. 9. Northwestern sits at No. 29 (a rating impacted by the team’s SOS of 167th).
· The 31st CIT title in program history was decided in blowout fashion. On day one of the 2025 CIT, the Bulldogs built a lead as large of 26 in the 90-71 thumping of the Cougars. CUNE overcame 26 turnovers with the help of four double-figure scorers: Tristan Smith (22), Hayden Frank (17), Noah Schutte (17) and Elijah Gaeth (10). The Bulldogs shot a sizzling 62.1 percent from the floor. On day two, CUNE steamrolled the Cardinals, 88-45, behind a strong defensive effort (37.8 percent CUAA shooting) and a 44-29 rebound advantage. Smith led the way with 14 points, five rebounds and five assists and Schutte (12) and Bennett (12) also hit double figures. The bench contributed 37 points. Smith was named the CIT MVP and Schutte was selected alongside him as an all-tournament honoree.
· Smith ‘wowed’ the CIT crowd with another series of highlight reel dunks, including a doozy of a one-hand alley-oop slam and a windmill throwdown in transition. The Elizabeth, Colo., native was then tabbed the MVP of CIT during the postgame awards ceremony. Over the two CIT games, Smith tallied 36 points, 17 rebounds, eight assists, four blocked shots and two steals while making 15-of-17 (.882) shots from the field. The CIT championship marked the 100th career game for Smith, who has tallied 1,326 points, 639 rebounds, 190 assists, 113 blocks and 101 steals as a Bulldog. Tristan is closing in on catching his brother Gage (1,355 points) for a spot in the top 15 of the program’s all-time scoring list.
· While the offensive numbers are prolific, CUNE has tightened up on the defensive end during the 10-game winning streak that started in Arizona on Dec. 21. During that time, Bulldog opponents have averaged 67.1 points per game and have shot 41.7 percent from the floor and 30.7 percent from 3-point range. The team’s top scorers during the streak have been Smith (21.7), Schutte (15.1), Brad Bennett (10.7) and Jaxon Stueve (9.1).
· Friedrich Arena has been good to the Bulldogs. They are 10-1 at home and are averaging 88.7 points and allowing 72.1 points in those nine contests. The shooting percentages at home have been impressive – 51.1 percent from the floor and 40.0 percent from 3-point range (compared to 43.4 percent and 32.5 percent, respectively, for their opponents). The home slate this season has included signature wins over No. 11 Dordt and No. 3 Northwestern. Dating back to late in the 2020-21 season, the Bulldogs have won 53 of their last 58 home games. That stretch included a 23-game home win streak.
· Among GPAC teams, CUNE ranks first in rebound margin (+7.6), third in field goal percentage defense (.453), fourth in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.336), fourth in scoring offense (87.2), fourth in field goal percentage offense (.520), fifth in 3-point field goal percentage offense (.374), fifth in scoring defense (73.4) and eighth in free throw percentage (.720). Individually, Smith ranks first in field goal percentage (.703), fourth in rebounding (8.0) and fifth in scoring average (20.3).
Concordia Projected Starting Five
G – Brad Bennett, 6-1 (10.9)
G – Hayden Frank, 6-2 (7.4)
G – Jaxon Stueve, 6-4 (8.1)
F – Noah Schutte, 6-4 (16.3)
F – Tristan Smith, 6-5 (20.3)
The opponents
Midland enters Wednesday night’s game at 10-12 overall (5-9 GPAC) while having put together a solid month of January. The Warriors are 4-3 since the calendar flipped to 2025 and played a tight game (74-71 loss) with Northwestern on Jan. 4. The headlining performer for Head Coach Tyler Erwin’s squad is guard Jake Orr, who is averaging 18.0 points per game. Orr racked up 33 points in Midland’s 89-78 loss at Concordia on Nov. 26. Through 22 outings in 2024-25, the Warriors have averaged 79.9 points while allowing 79.8 points per contest. Midland big man Jeff Rozelle sat out this past Saturday’s 80-74 loss at Briar Cliff (but had started this season’s first 21 games). The Bulldogs have won each of the past 12 meetings with the Warriors.
Midland Projected Starting Five
G – Rece Kissinger, 6-0 (6.5)
G – Ryan Larsen, 6-3 (10.6)
G – Trey McCain, 6-0 (11.9)
G – Jake Orr, 6-2 (18.0)
F – Jeff Rozelle III, 6-6 (11.2)
Waldorf finished the 2023-24 season at 11-16 overall in its final campaign before joining the GPAC. Previous head coach Nigel Jenkins resigned back in September, leaving Demitrius Martin to take over the role. The Warriors have taken their share of lumps in the GPAC (2-12). Their league wins have come over Hastings and Doane (both on the road). Waldorf came up just short of a third GPAC victory this past weekend when they suffered a 71-69 home defeat at the hands of the Broncos. On the season, the Warriors are averaging 66.2 points and allowing 82.7 points per game. Back on Dec. 14, CUNE won handily in Forest City, Iowa, 103-79. Waldorf will be headed to Friedrich Arena for the first time since taking part in the 2021 Cattle Classic (a meeting won by the Bulldogs, 89-72).
Waldorf Projected Starting Five
G – Nick Graves, 6-3 (10.8)
G – Noah Miller, 6-0 (6.2)
F – Emmanuel Ferguson, 6-6 (4.0)
F – Gene Noble, 6-8 (6.4)
C – Ugo Ejiofor, 6-8 (13.2)
Next week
The Bulldogs have another mid-week bye coming up (Wednesday, Feb. 5) prior to a road showdown at No. 3 Northwestern on Saturday, Feb. 8. Concordia toppled the Red Raiders, 85-70, in Seward on Jan. 18.