Defense Steps Up, Offense Struggles

ST. PETER, Minn. (1/06/18)---For the first 26:16 of Concordia's game at Gustavus the teams traded the lead on five occasions and the score was tied six times.

The back-and-forth game turned in favor of the Gusties midway through the final period when they went on a 5-0 run to turn a two-point contest into a seven-point spread. Gustavus would then extend the lead to 12 points by capping a 16-6 stretch over a span of 5:33.

The Cobbers would never be able to get to within seven points for the final 5:56 and lost 62-52.

Concordia (3-8/1-5 MIAC) continued to juggle its starting lineup in order to find consistent output on both ends of the floor. The Cobbers finished the game by shooting 41.7% (20-for-48) and held the Gusties to 39.0% (23-for-59).

The 62 points allowed by Concordia are the second fewest all season and Gustavus' shooting percentage was the third lowest for a CC opponent all year long. Unfortunately for Concordia their shooting percentage was the lowest of the year.

Neither team was able to connect from outside the arc as well. The Cobbers went 6-for-23 (26.1%) while Gustavus was even colder at 4-for-21 (19.0%).

Gustavus (7-5/5-2) held a slight edge in the other stat categories. The Gusties outrebounded CC 35-32 and held a 24-16 advantage in points in the paint. Concordia committed two more turnovers in the game and trailed 13-4 in points off of miscues.

Jordan Davis picked up his fourth starting assignment of the year and responded with a team-high 14 points 5-of-6 shooting from the floor. He was the only Cobber with more than eight points in the game. Davis also collected a game-high seven rebounds. The seven rebounds tie a season high for the junior.

Freshman Bryden Urie knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in the game and finished with eight points while Collin Larson and Jacob Pazdernik both had seven points and five rebounds.

YEAR OF THE FREE THROW 2: For the second straight game Concordia continued to go against their season trend and make free throw chances. The Cobbers shot a season-high 75.0% (6-for-8) from the foul line vs. the Gusties. That marks the first time all year they have shot above 70.0% in a game. CC has shot 71.4% in their two games of 2018.

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will stay in southern Minnesota as they will play at St. Mary's on Monday, Jan. 8 at 5 p.m. The Cardinals are 1-10 in all games and 0-6 in MIAC play.