The Year of the Cobber, The Year of the Freshman

MOORHEAD, Minn. (1/06/22)---Could 2022 be the "Year of the Cobber"? After shooting a season-high 60.4% from the field, and leading St. Olaf for 35 of the 40-minutes of play – it just might be.

Concordia never trailed after the 13-minute mark of the first half and bolted past the Oles 83-66 in the first game of the calendar year for CC. The 83 points scored by the Cobbers are the most in a single game this season.

If the "Year of the Cobber" theme might seem a little premature, 2022 will certainly go down as the "Year of the Freshman" for Concordia. CC had a pair of first-year players combine for 45 of the team's 83 points – and a third freshman lead the team in rebounds.

Dylan Inniger might be the poster boy for both Cobber campaigns. The freshman from Golden Valley went 5-for-7 from outside the arc, poured in a crisp 30 points and was unstoppable in the second half.

The 30 points scored by Inniger is the most by a Concordia freshman in school history and the first 30-point game by any CC player since Dylan Alderman had 33 against Bethel in the 2016-17 season.          

Inniger went 5-for-7 from 3-point range, 10-for-15 from the floor and 5-for-6 from the foul line in the final 20 minutes of play.

Fellow freshman Rowan Nelson, who leads the team in scoring average this season, was the only other Cobber player in double digits in scoring. He was 6-for-8 from the floor, 5-for-6 from the free throw line and finished with 17 points.

Nelson has now posted double-digit scoring totals in all nine games this year. That streak is the most by a Cobber first-year player to start the season in program history.

Zach Jackson was the third member of the baby Cobber trio to post a team-high total. He grabbed six rebounds and added four points. It marks the second straight game Jackson has led the team in boards.    

Concordia (2-6, 2-4 MIAC) finished the game by shooting a season-high 60.4% (29-for-48) from the floor and 43.8% (7-for-16) from outside the arc. CC also recorded a season-high mark from the free throw line. The Cobbers shot 90.0% (18-for-20) from the foul line. The 18 made foul shots are the most in a single game this season.

St. Olaf (7-4, 3-3), who entered the game in fourth place in the league standings, shot 52.6% (30-for-57) from the floor but were held to only 14.3% (3-for-21) shooting from outside the arc.

The tenacious Cobber defense also forced 17 turnovers which led to a 23-15 edge in points off of miscues in the game. The 17 forced turnovers are the most in a league game for CC this year.

UP NEXT: Concordia will look to push its win streak to two games when they host St. Scholastica on Saturday, Jan. 8 at 3 p.m. The Saints are 1-9 overall and 0-6 in MIAC play.

CONCORDIA vs. ST. OLAF HIGHLIGHTS