Hello Second Place

ST. PAUL, Minn. (2/09/13)—The six Concordia seniors would not be denied second place in the MIAC final regular-season standings on Saturday. The Super Six combined to score 77 of the team's 90 points in a 90-78 victory over Hamline.

With the win the Cobbers secure second place in the final conference regular-season standings and the No.2 seed in the upcoming MIAC playoffs. The victory also means that CC will receive a bye in the first round of the league tournament and get to host a semifinal game on Friday, Feb. 22.

The second-place finish is the highest for the Cobbers since they also finished second in 1995-96. Concordia is now 14-5 in league games and 17-7 overall. Both win totals are the most since the 2003-04 campaign.

The difference in the second-place clinching win came on the defensive end in the second half. Concordia allowed Hamline to score 46 points in the first half and shoot 55.9% from the floor and 57.1% from 3-point range. The Cobbers then turned up the defensive pressure in the second 20 minutes, forced nine turnovers and limited the Pipers to only 32.4% from the field and 0.0% from outside the arc.

On the other end of the floor the Concordia offense was gelling in both halves and finished with at least 90 points for the fourth time in 2012-13. The Cobbers shot at least 50.0% from the floor in both periods and ended the game by connecting on 57.1% of their shots from the field. It marks the third highest field goal percentage for the year and CC is now 10-1 when they shoot at least 50.0% from the floor for the game.  Concordia was also consistent from outside the arc and finished by making 9 of their 20 (45.0%) long balls.

Aaron Lindahl scored 16 of his game-high 21 points in the second half. He was 7-for-12 from the floor for the game. Fellow seniors Ebo Nana-Kweson, Dewon McKenzie and Andrew Martinson all scored at least 15 points. Nana-Kweson went for 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. McKenzie continues to fill up the stat sheet. A game after almost going for a quadruple-double, he had 16 points, two assists and two steals. McKenzie was also 3-for-5 from 3-point range. Martinson had 16 points and has now scored in double figures in 10 of the last 11 games.

Concordia will finish off the regular season when they host Gustavus on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 3 p.m. The Cobbers will then host an MIAC semifinal game on Friday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m.