Men's Basketball

A thrilling era of Concordia Basketball ended on Saturday (March 15) as Noah Schutte and Tristan Smith played their final games as Bulldogs. Concordia fell in the second round of the national tournament, 80-65, at Baker.

Not until the clock hit zeroes could the sixth-seeded Bulldogs finally breathe easy. A clutch trey from Elijah Gaeth and double-doubles from Tristan Smith and Noah Schutte made the difference at the national tournament.

Sixth-seeded Concordia and 11th-seeded Bethel (Kan.) will go head-to-head in Baldwin City, Kan., on Friday, March 14 as part of first round action at the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship.

Tristan Smith has emerged as the first Concordia Men's Basketball player named GPAC Player of the Year since 2003-04. Smith and Schutte were both honored as first teamers.

Morningside remains the lone GPAC team the Bulldogs just couldn't solve in 2024-25. The Mustangs started hot early and held a major free throw advantage while taking the GPAC title game, 87-77, inside Friedrich Arena.

A combined 68 points through the GPAC quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, combined with stellar defensive play, landed Tristan Smith a sweep of GPAC Player of the Week awards.

The accolades keep coming for Tristan Smith, who has been named to the 15-player Trevor Hudgins Award Watch List and as a nominee for the Dark Horse Dunker competition.

For the fifth time in program history and for the third time during Head Coach Ben Limback’s tenure, Concordia Men's Basketball has reached the GPAC tournament title game. The Bulldogs will host Morningside on Tuesday night.

For the third time in six seasons, the Bulldogs have reached the GPAC tournament final. In a matchup of NAIA top 15 teams, Concordia defeated Northwestern, 67-61, in a semifinal slugfest.