First Half Threes Cost Cobbers

NORTHFIELD, Minn. (1/20/20)--- The good news was that Concordia shot 60.7% from the field in the second half and outscored St. Olaf by nine points. The bad news is that the Oles dressed a lineup of Steph Currys in the first half, made 11 shots from outside the arc and built an insurmountable 30-point lead.

The Cobbers couldn't overcome the 52-22 halftime deficit and lost 89-68 to St. Olaf in the first of three conference games during the week.

St. Olaf made their first four 3-pointers of the opening half, went 8-for-10 from long range in the first 12-minutes of the half and went on a 16-0 run that started at the midway point of the period en route to a blistering 52-point first half.

The opening-half fireworks show by the Oles sent the Cobbers to their 11th straight loss. Concordia is now 2-13 in all games and 0-10 in conference play. St. Olaf wins for the second straight game and is now 8-8 overall and 5-6 in the MIAC.

The 60.7% (17-for-28) shooting from the floor in the second half helped Concordia score 46 points in the period which is the second most in any half in any MIAC game for CC this year. The Cobbers also shot 62.5% (5-for-8) from outside the arc in the last period of play.

Concordia had a pair of players score in double digits in the second half and both benefitted from the long-range shot. Freshman Braeton Motschenbacher went 4-for-5 from the floor, 1-for-2 from 3-point range and 2-for-3 from the free throw line and had 11 points in the second half. Fellow guard Ian Schafer was 2-for-2 from distance and had 10 points.

The Cobbers outshot St. Olaf from the floor for the game. CC finished the game by shooting 50.0% (25-for-50) from the field as opposed to 48.3% (29-for-60) for the Oles.

The difference in the game came outside the arc where St. Olaf made 14 3-pointers and shot 50.0% from distance. Concordia shot a solid 43.8% (7-for-16) from long rang but couldn't overcome the seven made 3-pointers deficit.

Concordia committed 18 turnovers in the game which the Oles transformed into a 33-13 advantage in points off of turnovers.

Motschenbacher and Jacob Fredrickson led the Cobbers in scoring with 11 points each. Fredrickson was 3-for-5 from the floor and 5-for-7 from the line to post his third double-digit scoring total of the year.

Schafer scored all his points in the game and finished with 10 to give CC three players with at least 10 points.

Freshman Camden Arndt came off the bench and grabbed a team-high four rebounds.

INSIDE STAT INFO: The 14 made 3-pointers by St. Olaf tie for the most by an opposing team against the Cobbers this year. St. Thomas also made 14 shots from outside the arc on Jan. 4.

UP NEXT: Concordia will have little time to prepare for the only unbeaten teams in the MIAC this season.  The Cobbers host No.2-ranked St. John's on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 5:15. The Johnnies are 15-1 this season and 11-0 in the MIAC. The game is part of Cancer Awareness night for the Cobber men's and women's basketball teams.