Second-Half Start Stops Cobbers In Loss At Augsburg

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (01/12/22)---Concordia trailed Augsburg by only four points at the halftime break, but then the league-leading Auggies went on a 17-1 run to start the second half and handed the Cobbers a 76-60 loss in Minneapolis.

The 16-point advantage to start the final 20 minutes of play proved to be the difference in the final score as CC had its 2-game win streak come to an end.

The Cobbers are now 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the MIAC. Augsburg wins for the fourth straight game, remains tied atop the league standings, and is 11-2 in all games and 8-0 in conference play.

Concordia battled the Auggies through the first 19 minutes of the game. The first half of play featured seven tie scores and the Cobbers held the lead on four different occasions.

The Cobbers tied the game for the final time when Jackson Jangula connected on a layup with 38-seconds remaining in the opening period to even the score at 34-34. The Auggies would then score the final four points in the half to take a 38-34 lead into the break.

The final seconds of the first half, coupled with the opening 6-minutes of the final period, saw Augsburg outscore CC by a combined margin of 21-1.

Concordia struggled in the second half, scoring only 26 points and shooting 32.1% (9-for-28) from the field and 22.2% (2-for-9) from outside the arc.

The 26 points scored is the fewest in a second half this season for CC and the 60 total points is the second lowest total in a league game this year.

The Cobbers had three players score in double figures and were led by freshman Rowan Nelson who put up 18 points and went 8-for-18 from the field.

Nelson has now scored at least 10 points in all 10 games this year, and his 16.3 points per game average leads the team and is seventh best in the MIAC. Nelson is also second in the conference in scoring among first-year players.   

Braeton Motschenbacher went 7-for-11 from the floor and added 17 points. He is now 15-for-21 (71.4%) from the field in his last two games and is second on the team in scoring with a 13.5 ppg average.

Dylan Inniger, who was named the MIAC Player of the Week on Monday, finished with 10 points.

Sophomore guard Talon Hoffer recorded a team-high seven rebounds. He is tied for the team lead in boards with a 5.1 rpg average.                  

UP NEXT: Concordia will look to start a new win streak when they host St. Mary's on Saturday, Jan. 15 at 3 p.m. The Cardinals are just above the Cobbers in the conference standings with a 3-5 league mark and a 5-7 overall record.