Unheralded Veteran Steps Into Spotlight In Season Opener

MOORHEAD, Minn. (11/8/23)----Cobber fans who came to the season opener against Minn.-Morris expecting the dynamic duo of Matt Johnson or Rowan Nelson, or one of the impressive newcomers, lead Concordia missed the mark as a hard-working veteran stepped into the spotlight to help the Cobbers roll to a 27-point victory.

Junior Zach Jackson started Concordia's run to the win when he knocked down a 3-pointer that gave the Cobbers a 14-13 lead with 13:12 left in the first half. CC would never trail after that point, and Jackson finished with a career-high 19 points after going 4-for-6 from distance as Concordia prevailed 80-53.

It's the first win for the Cobbers over the Cougars since the 2018-19 season.  

Jackson entered the year having scored more than four points only twice in his 43 games as a Cobber. He made the most of the opener by leading Concordia's offense that shot 43.8% (28-for-64) from the field and 32.3% (10-for-31) from outside the arc.

Jackson's 3-ball at 13:12 started a 12-2 run that gave Concordia a double-digit lead at 23-13 midway through the first half. The Cobbers would push the margin to as many as 18 points in the first half and finished the opening 20 minutes of the year with a 42-27 lead.

Concordia never let the Cougars get to within 13 points for the second half and upped the lead to 22 points with 12:49 to play.

The Cobber defense held Morris to 39.6% (21-for-53) shooting from the floor and 30.0% (6-for-20) from 3-point range. CC also held a 37-28 rebound lead and committed five fewer turnovers in the game.

Jackson was one of four Cobber starters to score at least 12 points. Johnson was 3-for-7 from distance and had 15 points in the first game of his senior season.

Sophomore Jacob Cook recorded his first double-double of the season after scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. He matches his double-double total in all of last season.

Junior forward Rowan Nelson was 4-for-6 from the field and added 12 points.

Newcomers Jackson Loge and Erik Hedstrom were the other CC players with five or more points. Loge, who transferred from Augustana (S.D.), had nine points and two blocks, while Hedstrom didn't miss a shot in his CC debut, going 1-fr-1 from the field and 3-for-3 from the foul line and finishing with five points.                  

UP NEXT: Concordia will travel northeast to compete in the Wis.-Superior Merrill Thompson Classic over the weekend. CC will play Wis.-River Falls on Friday, Nov. 10 at 5:30 p.m. and then face Wis.-La Crosse on Saturday, Nov. 11.   

CONCORDIA vs. MINN.-MORRIS HIGHLIGHTS: