Tough Road Loss Opens Conference Play
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Concordia-M'head (3-2 / 0-1 MIAC) | 43 | 33 | 76 |
|
Macalester (2-3 / 1-0 MIAC) | 34 | 45 | 79 |
ST. PAUL, Minn. (12/05/13)—After leading for almost the entire first half, Concordia gave up a 21-9 run at the start of the second half and lost 79-76 to Macalester in the conference opener.
Concordia was able to contain the Macalester offense in the first half but then the Scots shot 63.0% (17-for-27) from the floor and 62.5% (5-for-8) from outside the arc in the second half. Those numbers led to the Cobbers dropping their first game in the past three contests. CC is now 3-2 overall. The Scots improve to 2-3 on the season.
The conference opener hung in the balance in the final seven minutes of play. The game was tied at 61-61 with 6:38 to play when Macalester scored the next six points on a pair of 3-point field goals to take a 67-61 lead. The Cobbers would be forced to chase the game for the final five minutes of play. CC cut the lead to a single point on a pair of occasions in the final 30-seconds of play but each time the Scots were able to connect on both free throws to push the lead back to three points.
Macalester's biggest statistical advantage came around the basket where they outscored Concordia 36-20 in points in the paint. Those baskets from in close led to the Scots shooting 54.5% (30-for-55) from the field. The Cobbers shot 40.7% (24-for-59) from the floor and a season-high 42.1% (8-for-19) from outside the arc.
The Cobbers had three players score in double figures. Jordan Bolger shook off foul trouble to post a team-high 16 points. Bolger played only seven minutes in the first half and a mere two points because of two early fouls. He responded by scoring 11 points and going 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final period of play.
Brandon Giese had 12 points in the first half and finished with 15 points. Tom Fraase was 4-for-7 from the floor and added 11 points. Brady Syverson had a team-high seven rebounds and Matt Ellingson came away with a career-high four assists.
Concordia will look to get back on the winning track when they play at Gustavus on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 3 p.m.