Memorial Magic Continues To Make Memories

MOORHEAD, Minn. (2/06/13)—You'll have to forgive the six seniors on Concordia if they never want to leave Memorial Auditorium after they graduate in May. The old barn has been reborn in the winter of 2013 and has sprinkled its magic over the six as they continue to rack up program-defining victories.

The Cobbers have already knocked off the No.1 team in the nation in Memorial Auditorium and entered Wednesday's game with St. John's with a perfect 8-0 mark against conference opponents at home. And just when you think things couldn't get any more memorable, Memorial Magic goes and completely outdoes itself. Concordia erased a 10-point deficit in the final 3:19 and went on to earn an improbable 74-67 win. CC hit on a trio of 3-point baskets in the final 23-seconds of regulation and went on to record their fifth straight win.

Concordia has now won 13 of their last 16 games and moves into sole possession of second place in the league standings. The Cobbers can lock up the No.2 seed, a bye in the first round of the conference tournament and a home game in the semifinals if they can win one of their final two regular-season games. CC is now 16-7 overall and 13-5 in league play. The 13 MIAC wins is the most since the 2003-04 season. That is also the last time that Concordia has swept the Johnnies in their season series.



Postgame audio interview with Cobber head coach Rich Glas (2:10)



St. John's (10-12/9-8 MIAC) looked like they would get a crucial conference victory as they controlled the game for 38 of the first 40 minutes. The Johnnies never trailed in the second half as they turned a 29-29 tie game at halftime into a 13-point lead with just under seven minutes to play in the second period. Concordia was never able to find their usually reliable home shooting touch and looked like they were going to lose for the first time at home against a league foe. The Cobbers shot just 22.2% from 3-point range in the first half and then missed on their first six long-range shots in the second half.

The game changed in the final five minutes of play as St. John's tried to run down the shot clock on their offensive possessions to kill the game. That's when Cobber point guard Dewon McKenzie stepped to the forefront. McKenzie had four huge steals on successive possessions and single-handedly turned a 13-point out-of-touch game into a manageable seven point hole.

McKenzie's defensive pick-pocket spree coincided with the resurgence of Concordia's outside shooting touch. Senior Brandon Fisher hit the first 3-point recovery shot with 2:52 to play and CC trailing by 10 at 58-48. That would kick start a streak where the Cobbers would make four straight 3-pointers. Each successive long-range make would be more critical and each would get increasingly more difficult. Aaron Lindahl hit a pair of shots from the parking lot and then Andrew Martinson, who had made just 1 of his first five 3-point shots hit the game-tying 3-ball with a player draped all over him with a mere 5.1-seconds to play.

St. John's had one last chance to break the tie at the end of regulation but a driving layup caromed off the rim and the game would head into overtime.

The Cobbers dominated the extra period by shooting 40.0% (4-for-10) from the floor and making all four foul shots. The Johnnies struggled for the first time all game and made only 22.2% (2-for-9) from the field and only one of their four foul shots.

Concordia outrebounded the Johnnies 51-41 for the game marking the fifth straight game they have held an advantage on the glass. CC has outrebounded their opponents in eight of their last nine games and 16 of their 23 games on the year.

Lindahl held the spot as the team's top scorer as he came away with 21 points on an 8-for-15 shooting night but it was McKenzie who was the real stat star. McKenzie finished the game with 10 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and five steals. Ebo Nana-Kweson was the third member of the starting five to score in double figures. He had 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Scott Flotterud came off the bench to add 12 points and collect eight rebounds.

The Cobbers will try and wrap up the No.2 seed in the upcoming conference tournament when they play at Hamline on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 3 p.m.