Men’s Basketball Clinch CIT Championship in Instant Classic

by Jacy Johnston

A nerve-wracking game was in store for the CIT Championship on Jan. 30 between Concordia Nebraska and Concordia Wisconsin. The Concordia Bulldogs’ men’s basketball team survived the last-second heave by the Falcons and won 86-85. The Bulldogs improved their record to 15-9 with the victory.

Juniors Eli Ziegler and Chandler Folkerts jumpstarted the Bulldog offense with the first 10 points of the game for Concordia Nebraska. The Falcons soon stepped up their offense to gain a slight lead before senior Micah Kohlwey tied the game for the Bulldogs at 23 apiece halfway through the first half. Then seniors Robby Thomas and Jamie Pearson stepped up offensively to continue the Bulldogs’ fight for the lead. The end of the first half flipped in favor of the Bulldogs, who gained a 49-41 lead at the break.

The second half continued the high intensity on both sides of the court for Concordia Nebraska. Five minutes into the half, the Bulldogs led 59-50. Wisconsin did not give up and quickly closed the lead to four with under 10 minutes in the game. The score continued to get closer as the clock wound down to zero. With a minute in the game, the Bulldogs led 86-85. The last-second corner 3-pointer from the Falcon’s sharp shooter hit everything but the bottom of the net, and the Bulldogs clinched the CIT Championship.

Folkerts led the team as the CIT MVP by contributing 24 points. Thomas scored 19 points, while Ziegler scored 17 points and Pearson netted another 14 points. The Bulldogs shot over 50 percent from the field and 80 percent from the foul line.

“I am so proud of the guys, I thought it was an awesome game, I am proud on both sides,” said coach Ben Limback. “The shot at the end did not go, but I am proud that our guys fought through it and really just maintained some poise down the stretch.”

The Bulldogs will return to GPAC action at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 3 in Lincoln against Nebraska Wesleyan.