Ending The West Gym Woes

NORTHFIELD, Minn. (2/3/15) --- West Gym has not been nice to the Cobbers for the better part of the last decade.  Concordia had not beaten Carleton on their home floor since 2006-07, but a balanced scoring attack and a stout defensive effort led to an end to the streak. 

Concordia keeps its roll going, having won eight of its last nine games, and stays tied for second place in the conference with St. John's at 13-7 overall and 10-5 in MIAC play. The loss drops Carleton to sixth place in the league with an 11-8 overall mark and a 8-6 conference record. 

CC held the Knights to their second lowest point total of the season, allowing just 45 points on 37.8% (17-of-45) shooting from the floor in a 60-45 win. 

The 45 points surrendered is the lowest point total by a Cobber opponent this season. 

Carleton led 3-0 after the first possession of the game, but Concordia grabbed the lead at the 17:35 mark of the first half on a Brady Syverson jumper. The Cobbers would lead the rest of the way. 

CC extended its lead to 19-9 after a basket by Jordan Bolger and minutes later Austin Nelson gave the Cobbers a 12-point lead with a dunk after he slipped off a screen. 

Nelson scored six of the Cobbers' final nine points in the half to give CC a 34-20 advantage heading into the break. 

Carelessness with the basketball cost Carleton in the first half. They turned the ball over 11 times compared to Concordia's lone turnover. The Cobbers converted on those mistakes, scoring 15 points off of turnovers in the first 20 minutes. 

Bolger came out of the half and scored the first six points and eight of the first 11 points for Concordia to make it 45-29 with 10:30 remaining. 

After a Carleton 3-pointer cut the lead to 54-41 with 2:20 to play, the Cobbers converted on the next four possessions, including a perfect 4-for-4 from the foul line from Dylan Alderman to keep the Knights at bay. 

The confines of West Gym were not nice to either team, as CC outshot Carleton 46.3% (25-of-54) to the previously mentioned 37.8%. 

The Knights outrebounded CC 31-25 but lost the turnover battle 18-5 and points off turnovers 21-5. 

A big difference from the first game of the season against Carleton was points at the free throw line. The Knights shot 45 free throws, hitting 28 of them, in the first game but only made it to the line seven times in the second game. 

Last game, the trio of Kevin Grow, Tianen Chen and Mitchell Biewen combined for 66 points. On Wednesday they only combined for 27 points. 

Bolger led all scorers with 16 points, Nelson and Tom Fraase each chipped in 11 points and Syverson added 10 for the Cobbers. 

D.A. TIME
The Cobber Sports Info Office has decided to call Webster's Dictionary to make an edit to the "i" section. Next to the word icy, we request that Dylan Alderman's name be put down as a synonym. In the last nine games, he is 19-for-20 from the free throw line in the last four minutes (and overtime) of the game. For the season, Alderman has converted on 30-of-32 tries from the charity stripe in the closing minutes. 

IRON MAN
Jordan Bolger is continuing his MVP-type season. Bolger played 39 minutes, and had a game-high 16 points with seven rebounds, five dimes and a steal. Averaging 33.4 minutes a game (35.6 minutes per MIAC game), he has now played 39 minutes or more in six games this season. 

THE GLAS IS HALF FULL
The win at Carleton was the first career win in West Gym for head coach Rich Glas. CC had lost nine straight in West gym until Wednesday night's 60-45 win. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Concordia will return home to Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 1 p.m. to take on Gustavus. The Gusties (9-11 overall/6-9 MIAC) had their four-game winning streak halted by St. Thomas on Wednesday where they lost 87-72 in St. Paul. CC beat GAC on the road 82-74 back on Jan. 2, however the Gusties were without leading scorer Gary Cooper, who has since returned and is averaging 14.8 points per contest.