SEWARD, Neb. – The week of the Concordia Invitational Tournament has arrived. As part of a hectic four-day stretch, the Concordia men’s and women’s basketball teams will play three games. Before shifting focus to CIT, the Bulldogs will host Mount Marty on Wednesday evening. They will then get on a bus Thursday morning and make the trek to Mequon, Wis., for the 71st CIT. This will mark the first time that Concordia University Wisconsin has hosted the tournament since 2018. In last week’s action, Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad defeated Hastings, 70-57, and No. 10 Briar Cliff, 68-58. Meanwhile, Head Coach Ben Limback’s group dropped a 79-78 nail-biter at Hastings before bouncing back to edge Briar Cliff, 87-82.
Concordia Women’s Basketball – This Week
Wednesday, Jan. 24 vs. Mount Marty (8-12, 4-10 GPAC), 6 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | 104.9 Max Country | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
CIT – Friday, Jan. 26 vs. Concordia Ann Arbor (12-5), 1 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats | 104.9 Max Country | Location: R. John Buuck Fieldhouse (Mequon, Wis.)
CIT – Saturday, Jan. 27 vs. CUC/CUW, 12:30/5:30 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats | 104.9 Max Country | Location: R. John Buuck Fieldhouse (Mequon, Wis.)
Concordia Men’s Basketball – This Week
Wednesday, Jan. 24 vs. Mount Marty (8-12, 4-10 GPAC), 7:45 p.m.
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | 104.9 Max Country | Location: Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
CIT – Friday, Jan. 26 vs. Concordia Ann Arbor (5-12), 3 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats | 104.9 Max Country | Location: R. John Buuck Fieldhouse (Mequon, Wis.)
CIT – Saturday, Jan. 27 vs. CUC/CUW, 2:30/7:30 p.m.
--Live Webcast/Stats | 104.9 Max Country | Location: R. John Buuck Fieldhouse (Mequon, Wis.)
2024 CIT Schedule – Jan. 26-27
--Admission at the door will be $15 for a day pass and $25 for a tournament pass; tickets must be purchased on site with cash only.
--Streaming: All eight CIT games will be streamed via Concordia Wisconsin’s Stretch portal. Live stats will be available via the CIT event page linked below and all CUNE games will be broadcast live via 104.9 Max Country radio.
Visit the official 2024 CIT webpage for more information: https://cuwfalcons.com/athletics/CIT/CIT2024.
For a preview of the CIT cheer/dance competitions, click HERE.
Friday, Jan. 26
- 1 p.m. CST - CUNE vs. CUAA (Women)
- 3 p.m. CST – CUNE vs. CUAA (Men)
- 6 p.m. CST - CUW vs. CUC (Women)
- 8 p.m. CST - CUW vs. CUC (Men)
Saturday, Jan. 27
- 9 a.m. CST - Cheer Competition
- 9:45 a.m. CST - Dance Competition
- 12:30 p.m. CST - Women's Consolation Game
- 2:30 p.m. CST - Men's Consolation Game
- 5:30 p.m. CST - Women's Championship Game
- 7:30 p.m. CST - Men's Championship Game
- Trophy presentation and all-Concordia devotions following last game
CUNE Women’s Basketball – By the numbers
· Coach Olson’s Bulldogs have moved their win streak to seven following victories last week by scores of 70-57 at Hastings and 68-58 versus No. 10 Briar Cliff. Defense was a major theme for Concordia as it held the Broncos to 40 percent shooting and stymied the Chargers to the tune of 30.5 percent shooting. Named the GPAC Player of the Week on Jan. 16, Kendal Brigham torched another in-state foe while pouring in 22 points on 8-for-11 shooting at Hastings. Taysha Rushton then led the Bulldogs with 17 points in the victory over Briar Cliff. At 10-2 in league play (14-2 overall), Concordia sits in second place in the GPAC standings behind only No. 1 Dordt (11-0). The Bulldogs have a two-game lead in the loss column over its closest competition – Dakota Wesleyan (8-4) and Briar Cliff (7-4) – for the runner up slot.
· Concordia is working on building a fine resume for March. The victory over No. 10 Briar Cliff marked the Bulldogs’ second this season over a top 10 foe. They also claimed a 75-62 triumph over No. 5 Marian University (Ind.), which stands at 18-1 overall. In addition, Concordia has toppled two squads currently receiving votes nationally: Northwestern and Dakota Wesleyan. According to Massey Ratings, the Bulldogs have played the NAIA’s fourth most challenging schedule. Based on Massey Ratings, five of the NAIA’s top 20 teams reside in the GPAC, which ranks among the nation’s best women’s basketball leagues.
· The Midland, Texas, native Rushton keeps climbing the program’s all-time lists. With 1,648 career points, Rushton ranks 10th in Concordia history and is closing in on No. 9 Kristen Conahan (1,656). As part of the win over Briar Cliff, Rushton moved past Andrea Janssen (247 3-point field goals) for the third most 3-point field goals in program history with 249. The top two on that list are Conahan (323) and Melissa Tinkham (266). In her 108 career collegiate games, Rushton has also tallied 329 rebounds, 294 assists and 187 steals. Her school rankings stand at No. 17 for assists and No. 23 in steals. Rushton is averaging a team best 15.0 points per game on the season.
· Few teams nationally can boast the type of experience that Concordia possesses on its roster. The four primary fourth-year Bulldogs have each played in more than 90 college games: Rushton (108), Powell (103), Mackenzie Toomey (103) and Brigham (91). Those four veterans have combined to score 3,776 points in Concordia blue. They have also been part of three national tournament teams with Rushton having served as a key figure on the 2020-21 squad that advanced to the national quarterfinals. Since Rushton arrived at Concordia, the program has a record of 72-37.
· The Bulldogs are especially dangerous when the shots are falling (like they were in the 20-trey explosion versus Doane), but they’ve shown they can win with superior defense. Among GPAC teams, Concordia sports rankings of first in turnovers forced per game (23.1), first in steals per game (13.8), third in scoring defense (63.3) and fifth in field goal percentage defense (.396). There are five Bulldogs who average more than 1.0 steal per game: Rushton (2.3), Toomey (2.3), Abby Krieser (1.8), Powell (1.8) and Brigham (1.3). In their careers, Rushton, Toomey and Powell have each swiped more than 100 steals.
Five facts about CUNE Women’s Basketball at CIT
· CUNE owns the most CIT titles (31) in the history of the women’s event, which dates back to 1973. The Bulldogs first seized the title in 1983 when led by head coach Carl Everts. CUNE has won 30 of the last 35 CITs.
· Five different head coaches have led the program to CIT titles (in order): Carl Everts (seven), Mark Lemke (four), Micah Parker (four), Todd Voss (four) and Drew Olson (12). Olson’s 12 CIT championships rank as the most of any women’s basketball coach in the history of the tournament.
· The Bulldogs have won eight straight CIT championships, including 16 consecutive CIT games during the run. Over those 16 games, CUNE’s average margin of victory has been 34.1 points per game.
· Six Bulldogs have earned multiple CIT MVP awards: Quinn Wragge (2016, 2017), Bailey Morris (2014, 2015), Whitney Stichka (2006, 2008, 2009), Sarah Harrison (2002, 2004, 2005), Stacey Miller (1997, 1998) and Lynda Beck (1990, 1991). The most recent CIT MVP award was won by Taysha Rushton in 2023. The Bulldogs cruised to the ’23 CIT title at home with wins over CUW, 100-49, and over CUC, 85-33.
· Now in his 18th season as head coach, Drew Olson owns an all-time CIT record of 27-3 and has reached the CIT championship game in every season of his tenure. CUNE lost CIT title games to CU-Wisconsin in 2007 and to CU-Ann Arbor in both 2011 and 2013.
Mount Marty and the CIT women’s field
Concordia University, Nebraska Bulldogs
Head Coach: Drew Olson, 18th year (457-135)
Record: 14-2 (10-2 GPAC)
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference (NAIA)
Location: Seward, Nebraska
Scoring Offense: 82.1 ppg / .442 FG%
Scoring Defense: 63.3 ppg / .396 FG%
CIT Titles: 31 (most recent: 2023)
Probable Lineup
G – Abby Krieser (10.3)
G – Taysha Rushton (15.0)
G – Mackenzie Toomey (5.2)
F – Sadie Powell (11.3)
F – Kristin Vieselmeyer (5.8)
Mount Marty University Lancers
Head Coach: Allan Bertram, 2nd year
Record: 5-12 (1-10 GPAC)
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference (NAIA)
Location: Yankton, S.D.
Scoring Offense: 62.9 ppg / .373 FG%
Scoring Defense: 70.3 ppg / .430 FG%
Probable Lineup
G – Kaity Hove (6.5)
G – Jadyn Jensen (9.8)
G – Kaela Martinez (11.5)
F – Maria Parsley (5.8)
F – Sidney Thue (8.5)
Concordia University Ann Arbor Cardinals
Head Coach: Elyse Schlump, 2nd year
Record: 12-5 (11-2 WHAC)
Conference: Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (NAIA)
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Scoring Offense: 63.2 ppg / .365 FG%
Scoring Defense: 57.8 ppg / .376 FG%
CIT Titles: 2 (most recent: 2013)
Probable Lineup
G – Ellery Baker (3.5)
G – Chloe Bisballe (1.6)
G – Taylor Leatherman (14.9)
G – Abby Long (15.8)
F – Alexx Braddock (6.2)
Concordia University Chicago Cougars
Head Coach: Lauren Martin, 6th year
Record: 5-11 (2-6 NACC)
Conference: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NCAA Division III)
Location: River Forest, Illinois
Scoring Offense: 63.7 ppg / .359 FG%
Scoring Defense: 67.1 ppg / .377 FG%
CIT Titles: 4 (most recent: 1986)
Probable Lineup
G – Prentciss Gates (4.5)
G – Cydnei Mitchell (4.9)
G – Melia Perry (7.8)
F – Abby Kulig (3.8)
F – Alisyn MacGregor (6.8)
Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons
Head Coach: Stacey Brunner-Jones, 20th year
Record: 8-8 (5-3 NACC)
Conference: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NCAA Division III)
Location: Mequon, Wisconsin
Scoring Offense: 55.1 ppg / .366 FG%
Scoring Defense: 57.5 ppg / .354 FG%
CIT Titles: 3 (most recent: 2007)
Probable Lineup
G – Gracie McNabb (2.8)
G – Jayden Ross (6.0)
F – Andrea Butterbrodt (3.1)
F – Aubrey DeBauch (12.5)
F – Erin Viergutz (12.0)
CUNE Men’s Basketball – By the numbers
· The Bulldogs split a pair of GPAC nail-biters last week as they fell, 79-78, at Hastings before rebounding for an 87-82 home win over Briar Cliff. Concordia narrowly missed out on a signature road win as it rallied from a 17-point deficit to tie the Broncos, 78-78, in the final seconds. A free throw with :3.1 remaining on the clock supplied the game’s final tally. Four Bulldogs reached double figures in scoring: Tristan Smith (15), Noah Schutte (11), Jaxon Stueve (11) and Lukas Helms (10). Both teams shot north of 50 percent for the contest. The same statistic was true in Saturday’s clash with the Chargers. The key sequence came in the final 30 seconds with Concordia up 83-82. After an empty Bulldog offensive possession, Briar Cliff missed two critical free throws and the Bulldogs capitalized as Brad Bennett and Schutte combined to go 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. Bennett finished with a team high 20 points while Schutte posted 15 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
· Despite a strong resume, Concordia continues to fly under the radar nationally. The Bulldogs did not receive votes in the NAIA coaches’ poll released on Jan. 17. The Bulldogs are likely to fair better when the official NAIA ARC and analytical rankings are unveiled at some point this month. According to Massey Ratings, Concordia is currently the 18th best team in the NAIA and has played the nation’s 19th most challenging schedule. Based on the latest coaches’ poll, the Bulldogs own two wins over teams that gathered votes: No. 22 Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) and Mayville State University (N.D.) (receiving votes). At 7-4 in league play, the Bulldogs sit fourth in the GPAC standings behind Hastings (9-1), Morningside (9-2) and Northwestern (8-3).
· With his first basket in the win over Briar Cliff, Schutte reached 1,500 career points (currently at 1,513). He’s the 10th player in the history of the program to accomplish that feat. He’s the fourth to do so during Head Coach Ben Limback’s tenure, joining Chandler Folkerts (1,963), Carter Kent (1,699) and Tanner Shuck (1,579). Not only does Schutte rank 10th in school history for scoring, he’s also moved to No. 12 in rebounds with exactly 600. On the season, Schutte is averaging 20.9 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting 58.4 percent from the floor.
· As previously mentioned, Concordia shot better than 50 percent in both of last week’s outings. The Bulldogs have shot 50 percent or better in 12 games this season and have gone 10-2 in those instances. The only losses came at the hands of Morningside and Hastings. With a scoring average of 88.9 points per game, the 2023-24 Concordia team is on pace to break the school record of 88.7 points per game held by the 2016-17 squad led by Folkerts. Among GPAC teams, the current Bulldogs rank second in the GPAC in both scoring and field goal percentage (.511). Concordia has scored at least 85 points 11 times and has hit the century mark four times.
· Casual observers of the Bulldogs are aware of the likes of veterans, Bennett, Schutte and Smith, but the Concordia’s success depends on contributions from several others. The 6-foot-4 freshman Stueve of Papillion, Neb., earned his second start of the season as he continues to blossom. Stueve has reached double figures in scoring in three-straight games and in five of the past seven. The shooting of Kulus versus Briar Cliff was a welcome sight. The sophomore from Bennington, Neb., has worked his way through a shooting slump. Limback and company would love to see the production Kulus put forth at the 2023 CIT when he dropped in a combined 33 points on 9-for-13 shooting from beyond the arc.
Five facts about CUNE Men’s Basketball at CIT
· The Bulldogs have dominated the Concordia Invitational Tournament, capturing an event record 29 all-time CIT titles. Only two other Concordias have won more than 10 CIT championships: St. Louis (16) and Chicago (14). Under head coach Ben Limback, the Bulldogs have won CIT titles in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2023.
· Only one CUNE player in tournament history has twice been named the CIT MVP, Chandler Folkerts. The Milford, Neb., native was named CIT MVP in 2016 and 2017. Folkerts piled up 136 points in his eight career CIT games. At last year’s CIT held in Seward, Noah Schutte took home CIT MVP honors while totaling a combined 41 points and 17 rebounds as the Bulldogs defeated CUC, 89-70, and CUW, 82-64.
· Six different head coaches have led the Bulldogs to CIT titles (in order): Reuben Stohs (two), Kent Einspahr (two), Brian Mueller (two), Tom Baack (two), Grant Schmidt (16) and Ben Limback (five). Schmidt’s 16 CIT championships are tied with Eldon Pederson (Concordia-St. Louis) for the most coaching CIT titles in the history of the tournament.
· The Bulldogs won their first-ever CIT title in 1964 under the direction of head coach Reuben Stohs while being led by MVP Gordon Bredow. CUNE has won 27 of the past 39 CIT tournaments dating back to 1983. The first CIT was held in 1951.
· Ben Limback is the only coach in the history of the event to win CIT titles with two different Concordias. Limback also guided Concordia-Ann Arbor to CIT championships in 2006 and 2007 while up against his college coach, Grant Schmidt.
Mount Marty and the CIT men’s field
Concordia University, Nebraska Bulldogs
Head Coach: Ben Limback, 11th year (194-131 at CUNE)
Record: 12-5 (7-4 GPAC)
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference (NAIA)
Location: Seward, Nebraska
Scoring Offense: 88.9 ppg / .511 FG%
Scoring Defense: 78.2 ppg / .444 FG%
CIT Titles: 29 (most recent: 2023)
Probable Lineup
G – Brad Bennett (10.4)
G – Jaxon Stueve (5.9)
F – Lukas Helms (6.9)
F – Noah Schutte (20.9)
F – Tristan Smith (18.1)
Mount Marty University Lancers
Head Coach: Collin Authier, 4th year
Record: 5-11 (1-9 GPAC)
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference (NAIA)
Location: Yankton, S.D.
Scoring Offense: 71.0 ppg / .453 FG%
Scoring Defense: 80.1 ppg / .478 FG%
Probable Lineup
G – Cole Bowen (12.2)
G – Micah Johnson (7.0)
F – Angok Akot (6.7)
F – Jared Lopez (10.3)
F – Tash Lunday (15.1)
Concordia University Ann Arbor Cardinals
Head Coach: Ricky Yahn, 11th year
Record: 5-12 (3-10 WHAC)
Conference: Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (NAIA)
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Scoring Offense: 74.9 ppg / .414 FG%
Scoring Defense: 77.7 ppg / .468 FG%
CIT Titles: 4 (most recent: 2018)
Probable Lineup
G – Joey Garwood (12.9)
G – Dylan Jergens (17.1)
G – Zavion McClendon (19.6)
G/F – Devyn Jones (10.2)
F – Nate Brighton (9.2)
Concordia University Chicago Cougars
Head Coach: Rashaan Surles, 2nd year
Record: 9-8 (6-6 NACC)
Conference: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NCAA Division III)
Location: River Forest, Illinois
Scoring Offense: 82.3 ppg / .463 FG%
Scoring Defense: 80.0 ppg / .466 FG%
CIT Titles: 14 (most recent: 2011)
Probable Lineup
G – Jacob Collicott (11.4)
G – Justin Greenlee (14.3)
G – Brent Hatten (6.3)
G – Jordan Matthews (14.6)
F – Carter Langendorf (1.7)
Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons
Head Coach: Shawn Cassidy, 17th year
Record: 7-10 (7-5 NACC)
Conference: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NCAA Division III)
Location: Mequon, Wisconsin
Scoring Offense: 70.5 ppg / .438 FG%
Scoring Defense: 75.6 ppg / .439 FG%
CIT Titles: 4 (most recent: 2019)
Probable Lineup
G – Adam Bruins (2.1)
G – Zech Hans (7.6)
G – Freeman Jackson (13.3)
F – Samuel Meerstein (14.0)
C – Gabe Pruss (13.1)
Next week
Both the Bulldog men’s and women’s teams will jump back into GPAC play while traveling to Morningside on Jan. 31 before then hosting Northwestern on Feb. 3. During February, the women will be at home for five games and the men will host four contests.