Not Enough Paint In The Valley

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (12/5/17)---Even a career night from sophomore Jacob Pazdernik couldn't keep Concordia from dropping a non-conference tilt at Valley City State.

Pazdernik scored a career-high 20 points in the Cobbers' 74-57 loss to the Vikings. Concordia was outscored 41-26 in the second after trailing by two points 33-31 at the break. Pazdernik scored 11 of his points in the second half to account for 42.3% of the team's total point production in the 20-minute period.

The loss drops Concordia under the .500 mark at 3-4. Valley City ups its record to 4-10 on the season.

Besides the difference in points in the second half the other deciding factor in the game came around the basket where Concordia was outscored 38-16 in points in the paint and was outrebounded 36-25. The Vikings also held a 16-0 advantage in second chance points.

Concordia shot 41.8% (23-for-55) from the field and 33.3% (6-for-18) from outside the arc while Valley City made 49.1% (28-for-57) of their attempts from the floor and 25.0% (3-for-12) of their shots from 3-point range.

Pazdernik went 9-for-18 from the floor and made a pair of treys. He also came away with four rebounds and three assists as he bettered his previous career-high point total by two points.

Pazdernik was the only Cobber starter with more than five points in the game. Kevin Wolfe was the only other CC player in double digits in scoring. He went 7-for-13 from the floor and finished with season-high 14 points. He also matched Pazdernik with four rebounds.   

The Cobbers had a trio of players with a team-high four rebounds in the game. Besides Pazdernik and Wolfe, Austin Heins also came away with four boards.  

FOUL SHOTS: Another statistical difference against the Vikings came at the free throw line where Concordia went 5-for-11 (45.5%) as opposed to 15-for-19 (78.9%) from the Vikings.

FOUL SHOTS PART DEAUX: The Cobbers have struggled at the free throw line in the early part of the season. Concordia is now shooting 56.0% from the foul stripe which is last in the MIAC. Last year the Cobbers connected on 75.8% of their free throw attempts.

HEADED HOME: The game at Valley City finished off a six-game road trip for the Cobbers. CC went 2-4 in those four games. Concordia will now return home to Moorhead and host the next three games in the friendly confines of memorial Auditorium.

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will have an 11-day break before returning to conference action when they host Bethel on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 3 p.m. That will be the final game before the Christmas holiday for the Cobbers.