1st Half Hole Gets Cobbers Again

ST. PAUL, Minn. (2/24/21)---On Monday, Concordia dug a hole in the first half by giving up a 23-0 run at Bethel. On Wednesday the Cobbers fell into a similar hole as they were outscored 27-6 in a span of 11:06 in the opening period of play and lost to Hamline 88-74.

The decisive run by the Pipers started with the game tied at 5-5 after 3-minutes of play at historic Hutton Arena. The tumble into the hole finished at the 6:50 mark with the Cobbers trailing 32-11.

The good news for the youthful Cobbers is that they were once again able to regroup after the tough stretch and wound up outscoring Hamline 45-39 in the second half.

The loss is the third straight to start the once-in-a-lifetime season. CC is now 0-3 while Hamline climbs to 2-4.

GAME RECAP: The Cobbers held their only lead of the game when senior Jacob Fredrickson dropped home a layup for the first two points of the first half. CC would fall behind 5-2 but then tied the game on a 3-pointer from fellow senior Adam Daggett.

The game stayed within five points for the next 2:30 before the Pipers raised the lead from 12-7 to 25-7 in a span of 6:30. The deficit would grow to 23 points before Jackson Jangula scored the final three points of the period to bring to halftime score to 49-29.

Like the opening half, Concordia was able to connect on the opening field goal of the period but then Hamline got into an offensive groove and was able to score on consecutive trips down the floor.

The Cobbers trailed 69-42 at the midway point of the final half and then started to get into an offensive rhythm. They went on an 8-0 run and eventually outscored HU 32-19 in the final 10 minutes of the game.      

DIFFERENCE MAKER: Hamline held a 38-24 edge in points in the paint. The 14-point difference was the same margin as the final deficit.

STAT STUFF: The Pipers held an advantage in all three shooting categories and made 94.4% (17-for-18) of their foul attempts.) Concordia shot 41.7% (25-for-60) from the floor and made a season-high 10 shots from distance. CC was 10-for-23 (43.5%) from outside the arc and went 14-for-22 (63.6%) from the free throw line. Hamline connected on 54.4% (31-for-57) of the shots from the floor and 60.0% (9-for-15) from 3-point range. The 60.0% shooting from outside the arc is a season high. HU hadn't shot better than 39.0% from outside the arc in any of their first five games of the season.

HOFFER HEATS UP: Freshman guard Talon Hoffer had the best game of his young collegiate career. The Fargo Shanley product had team highs in points and rebounds. Hoffer scored all 12 of his season-high 12 points in the second half. He also grabbed five of his team-high six boards in the final 20 minutes of play.

MOTSCHENBACHER FOLLOWS SUIT: Sophomore Braeton Motschenbacher also had 12 points in the game and also scored all 12 of his points in the second half. He went 0-for-4 in the first period and then went 4-for-6 in period No.2. The 12 points is a season high for Motschenbacher who averaged 6.1 points per game as a freshman.

FIRST HALF ADAM: Daggett was the third member of the Cobbers to score in double figures. He was 3-for-5 from outside the arc and put up 10 points. His 10 points were the mirror opposite of Hoffer and Motschenbacher as they all came in the first half. Daggett has scored at least nine points in all three games this year with 25 of his 33 total points coming in the first half of games.                   
  
UP NEXT: Concordia will return to Moorhead to host its first home game since the season opener on Feb. 6. The Cobbers will host Gustavus on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. The Gusties are 1-2 on the year and are coming off a 61-60 win over St. Mary's on Wednesday.
 
SPONSOR: Tonight's recap sponsor is Buffalo Wild Wings. When the Cobbers need to refuel after playing two games in three days they head to the Moorhead B-Dubs. BWW has been a proud sponsor of Concordia athletics for years and was the home to the Cobber Coaches Show hosted by Joe Christianson who will be trying to qualify for the US Open in golf this summer.