Concordia Men’s Basketball Team Defeats Tabor 88-52 to Open Season
By Zack Gentry
Concordia sophomore forwards Tristan Smith and Noah Schutte combined for 41 points
to lead the Bulldogs to an 88-52 season-opening victory over the Tabor Bluejays in the Cattle
Classic Friday night at Friedrich Arena.
Smith scored 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor, while Schutte scored 18
points and added nine rebounds and four assists. Bulldog senior guard Gage Smith added nine points
and 11 rebounds, while junior guard A.J. Watson contributed six points and four assists.
In the first half of the game the Bulldogs took an early lead at 11-4 before the Bluejays
took their first time out of the game. After the time out, the Bluejays slowly came back by hitting a
three to put them within three points of the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs stretched their lead with a three by sophomore guard Bradley Bennett. Watson helped the Bulldogs to a 12-0 run by hitting back-to-
back threes.
The Bulldogs were all over the Bluejays in the first half by applying a lot of pressure that
led to great ball movement and created open shots. The Bulldogs led at the half 51-20.
During the second half, the Bluejays moved the ball more aggressively in the first couple
minutes, but the Bulldogs kept their comfortable lead with back-to-back dunks by Tristan Smith.
The Bulldogs did not let up their aggressive play and kept the momentum going throughout the
second half.
Coach Ben Limback said the team isn’t sure what to expect from the season but is
excited to start playing.
“I think there is a lot of excitement this year, especially around this time of the year. We don’t know what to expect,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of new faces, and we also returned three guys from last year’s starting group (Gage Smith, Schutte and Watson). So we’ve got a good mix and I’m excited to see what we’ve got this weekend.”
Watson said he is excited for the Bulldogs to build on last season, in which the team went
28-7, tied for first place in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, and won the GPAC tournament
for the second time in three years.
“I’m extremely excited to pick up where we left off last season,” he said. “We work so
hard every day in practice going against each other, making each other better, and building
team chemistry. I can’t wait to show it to all of our supporters.”
