Eight-Minute Sluggish Start Costs Cobbers

MOORHEAD, Minn. (11/20/12)—Concordia couldn't overcome an 18-point halftime deficit and lost 70-57 to cross-town rival MSU Moorhead on Tuesday. The Cobbers outscored the Dragons 36-31 in the second half but could dig themselves out of the huge first-half hole and lost for the first time in 2012.

Concordia (1-1) never led in the game and fell behind 23-8 in the first eight minutes of the game before finally getting on track offensively and outscoring MSU Moorhead 49-47 in the final 32 minutes of play. The Cobbers battled throughout the entire game and cut the deficit to nine points at 54-45 with 8:39 to play but a 9-2 run over the next three minutes sealed the win for the Dragons.

The Cobbers shot 30.3% (10-for-33) from the field and 16.7% (1-for-6) from 3-point range in the first half and then found the range in the second by shooting 42.3% (11-for-26) from the floor and 57.1% (4-for-7) from outside the arc.

MSU Moorhead, who remains unbeaten on the season at 4-0, shot over 50.0% from the field in both the first and second periods. The Dragons finished the game by shooting 52.9% (27-for-51) from the field and 40.0% (4-for-10) from 3-point range.

Concordia did hold a 37-29 edge in rebounding for the game. The Dragons won the game in their ability to drive and get good lucks from around the basket. MSU M had decided 14-point advantage in points in the paint.      

The Cobbers were led by senior Ebo Nana-Kweson who had a team-high 17 points and added seven rebounds. Andrew Martinson was the only other Concordia layer with more than eight points. Martinson scored nine of his 11 total points in the second half when he sank a trio of shots from behind the arc.

The Dragons had three players in double figures for the game and were paced by Anthony Tucker who was 9-for-14 from the floor and finished with a game-high 24 points. Alex Novak added 14 points four rebounds a pair of steals and a block.

Concordia will face a pair of WIAC opponents over the weekend in Wisconsin. The Cobbers will play UW-Superior on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. and then face UW-River Falls on Sunday, Nov. 25 at 3 p.m. Both games will be played on the campus of UW-Superior.