Run - Run - Run - Win

MOORHEAD, Minn. (1/15/14)—Concordia erased a six-point halftime deficit by using runs of 9-0, 12-0 and 8-2 to beat St. John's 74-64. The win snaps a two-game losing skid and brings the Cobbers' overall record back to .500 at 7-7.

The Cobbers' second-half comeback was fueled by a 55.6% (15-for-27) shooting percentage from the field and a 19-12 edge in rebounds. Concordia used their offensive glass prowess to come up with several put-backs in the second period after a missed shot. Sophomore Jordan Bolger used his "high energy" offensive work effort to come up with 16 second-half points. Bolger was 6-for-7 from the floor in the second period of play and had six of his eight total rebounds in the final frame.

In addition to their advantage in the second half, Concordia keyed their third league win at the free throw line. The Cobbers made their final 12 foul shots in the second half and went 19-for-21 at the charity stripe for the game.  CC was 15-for-17 in free throw attempts in the decisive second half of play.

Bolger finished with a game-high 18 points to go along with eight rebounds.  Several other Cobbers had huge stat stuffer games as well. Tom Fraase put up 15 points, four assists and three rebounds while Brandon Giese had 13 points and a game-high nine rebounds as well as two assists and two steals. Perhaps the most all-around performance belonged to junior guard Ryan Rude who had five points, six assists –which ties a career high and also came away with a career-high four blocks.

Rude's shot-blocking prowess against the Johnnies helped Concordia finish with a season-high seven shot rejections – the most for a CC team since January of 2013.

Concordia trailed for most of the first half against the Johnnies and allowed the final five points of the period to trail 32-26 at the break. The Cobbers went on a 9-0 run to start the second half and used that momentum to take a five-point lead at 40-35. The Johnnies responded with a 7-0 run of their own to retake a two-point lead at 42-40. The teams would then trade baskets before CC made the game-deciding 12-0 run midway through the period. The 12-point streak allowed the Cobbers to grab a 59-49 lead with 5:58 left to play in the game. It would be a lead that Concordia would never relinquish. CC finished off the game by scoring eight of the final 10 points after St. John's had cut the lead to four points at 66-62.

The Cobbers finished the game by shooting 44.8% (26-for-58) from the floor and 17.6% (3-for-17) from outside the arc. Concordia missed on all seven of its shots from 3-point range in the first half. CC outrebounded SJU 38-30 for the game. The Cobbers continued to excel under the offensive basket. Concordia had 12 offensive rebounds which marked the fifth time in the past six games the team has had at least 12 offensive boards.

Concordia will return to the road for a single game before coming back to Moorhead for a three-game home stand. The Cobbers will play at defending MIAC champion, and No.11-ranked, St. Thomas on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 3 p.m.