Perseverance Pays Off

STORY LINE: Concordia gave up the first five points of the game but then settled in, didn't trail for the final 33 minutes of the game and persevered over Hamline 68-62. The Cobbers outscored the Pipers by three points in each half as the posted their third win in the last four games.

RECORDS: The Cobbers are now 3-1 in the 2019 calendar year. Concordia improves to 4-9 in all games and 3-5 in conference play. CC is now in a tie for seventh place in the MIAC standings after starting the New Year in 11th place. Hamline loses for the second straight game after winning three straight and is now 7-6 overall and 4-4 in league games.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED: Concordia had a 9-point lead midway through the second half but then Hamline cut the margin to three at 53-50 with 6:32 remaining. The Cobbers then pushed the lead back to nine points on made field goals from Collin Larson, Jacob Fredrickson and Bryden Urie. CC was then able to keep the Pipers from getting to within six points for the final five minutes of play.

40-MINUTE MAN: Sophomore point guard Bryden Urie played all 40 minutes on Wednesday. It is the third time in the past four games that Urie has played all 40 minutes. In all three of those games he has scored at least 14 points. Against the Pipers he scored a team-high 18 points. Urie also put up a career-high 21 field goal attempts in the game. His previous career high shot total was 15.

HE LOVES HAMLINE AT HOME: Junior Tommy Schyma put up 15 points and grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds. It is his third career double-double and two have come at home against Hamline. Last year he scored 16 points and collected 11 rebounds against the Pipers in Memorial Auditorium on Jan. 22.             

THE LOOK THEY WANTED: Junior center John Reiten provided a solid inside game for Concordia as he finished with 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds. He was 5-for-7 from the floor as he only missed once from inside the arc. It is the second time in the past four games he has scored in double figures.  

NOT THE LOOK THEY WANTED: Reiten found himself in unfamiliar territory at the end of the shot clock in the second half. He had the ball at the top of the key as time ticked off the possession clock and was forced to attempt only the second 3-point attempt of his career. Reiten missed the long-range shot and is now 0-for-2 from 3-point range in his career.

STAT STUFF: Concordia shot 44.8% (26-for-58) from the floor in the game as compared to 41.8% (23-for-55) for Hamline. Both teams were within one 3-point field goal and one free throw of one another. CC went 5-for-19 from outside the arc while HU was 6-for-23. The Cobbers were 11-for-19 from the charity stripe and Hamline was 10-for-13. Concordia held 38-34 edge on the glass and also forced nine more turnovers in the game.

UP NEXT: Concordia will look to continue their success in 2019 when they host Bethel on Saturday, Jan. 12 at 3 p.m. The Royals are 7-6 overall and 4-4 in the MIAC and are coming off an 86-82 loss at Augsburg on Wednesday.