Senior Trio Steps Up In St. Paul

ST. PAUL, Minn. (2/04/17)--- Concordia used an 18-4 run at the start of the first half and led by double figures for all but 19 seconds in the second half as they beat Macalester 85-72.

The Cobbers shot over 50.0% from the field for only the second time since Jan. 3 and avenged a five-point loss to the Scots just 20 days ago in Moorhead.

The win keeps Concordia inside the Top 6 in the MIAC in the race for the conference postseason. The Cobbers are now 9-7 in league play and tied for fifth place in the standings. CC is now 12-9 overall. Macalester has its one-game win streak come to an end and is now 7-13 overall and 3-12 in the MIAC.

The Scots jumped to an early 6-2 lead after they scored on each of their first three possessions down the flour.

Concordia went on the decisive 18-4 stretch starting at 18:34 of the first half when junior Guilherme Saad hit a shot from outside the arc. The Cobbers scored on four straight possessions and seven of the next 10 to take a 10-point lead at 20-10 with 12:54 left in the opening half.

The Cobbers never trailed after that point and built the lead to as many as 12 points in the first period. Concordia led 43-34 at the half which meant that CC is now 10-1 when they lead at the break.

Concordia finished the game off down the stretch by making 14-of-18 (77.8%) free throws in the second half.

The Cobbers shot 52.7% (29-for-55) from the floor and 39.3% (11-for-28) from 3-point range for the game. It marked the fourth time this season that CC has made more than 10 shots from outside the arc and in all four games they have made 11 3-pointers.

Concordia had four of its five starting players finish with at least 10 points – and the fifth had eight points.

The senior trio of Austin Nelson, Zach Kinny and Dylan Alderman combined for 50 points. Nelson led the way with 20 points and six rebounds. It was the third time this year he has reached the 20-point mark and first since Dec. 10.

Kinny put up his usual stat sheet-filling score line. He scored 16 points, added nine assists and came away with six rebounds. Kinny continues to lead the MIAC in assists and now has a career-high 119 dimes for the year.

Alderman was clutch at the free throw line at the end and finished with 14 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Junior post player Austin Heins earned his 12th double-digit scoring game of the year. He had 11 points  and was 5-for-7 from the floor.

WHAT'S NEXT:  Concordia will have a much-needed seven-day break to rest and get ready for the final four games of the year – all of which are against teams in the Top 5 of the MIAC. The Cobbers will start their final playoff push when they host Hamline on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 3 p.m. Concordia dropped a 68-53 decision to the Pipers earlier in the year.