Season-High 3-Point Total Not Enough Against Scots

MOORHEAD, Minn. (1/24/24)---Concordia connected on a season-high 12 3-pointers, but it wasn't enough in their MIAC match-up against Macalester.

Scot junior Caleb Williams proved to be the difference in the game as he poured in a career-high 51 points – one shy of the MIAC record – as the Scots edged the Cobbers 92-88.

Despite the monster night from Williams, Concordia had a chance to pull away down the stretch. The Cobbers held an 83-79 lead with 2:20 left in the second half. Macalester then went on a 9-0 run over a span of 2:00 to take a 5-point lead at 88-83 with 28 seconds remaining.

Concordia is now 10-7 overall and 6-6 in the MIAC. The Cobbers are in sole possession of sixth place as the league heads towards the playoff push with the Top 6 teams making the postseason.

The game featured 12 lead changes and four tie scores as the Cobbers continually looked to erase Williams' hot scoring touch.

Concordia trailed for most of the first half, but then turned the tables in the second period when they went on a 12-3 run at the start of the half to erase an 8-point deficit and take a 1-point lead at 66-65. The game then turned into a back-and-forth battle until the decisive final 2 minutes of play.

The Cobbers finished the game by shooting 53.3% (32-for-60) from the field and 46.2% (12-for-26) from 3-point range. The 12 made 3-pointers are a season-high for Concordia.

Macalester (9-9, 5-8 MIAC) connected on 57.9% (33-for-57) of their attempts from the floor and 34.8% (8-for-23) of their chances from distance. Williams was 20-for-28 from the field and 3-for-9 from outside the arc in his near record-setting performance.

Concordia had four players with at least 11 points. Jacob Cook was 7-for-10 from the field, 3-for-5 from distance and ended the game with 17 points. He also grabbed a team-high four boards. Cook has now led CC in scoring in three straight games and has upped his season point average to 11.5 ppg.

Cook has now put up at least 10 points in six straight games.  

Peyton Belka gave the Cobbers a scoring lift off the bench. He went 6-for-8 from the field and had 14 points.              
 
Jackson Jangula was Concordia's outside shooting option as he went 3-for-8 from 3-point range and added 13 points.

Noah Christensen was 5-for-6 from the floor and had 11 points. He has scored in double digits in two of the past three games.  

Matt Johnson came away with a career-high eight assists and also added nine points. 

UP NEXT: Concordia will travel to St. Paul to take on second-place Hamline on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 3 p.m.