Men’s basketball plays losing game against Mustangs, 82-69
Sophomore foward Lukas Helms (2) guards himself against opponents to get the ball to the basket.
Photo credit: Maddy Peters
By Maddy Peters
Sports Editor
The Concordia men’s basketball team suffered a season sweep from the No. 23 Morningside University Mustangs, losing 82-69 Wednesday evening in Sioux City, Iowa.
The early sweep sets up a concerning advantage for the Mustangs in the conference tournament with a clear tie breaker in the tournament seeding evaluations at the end of the regular season.
The two teams kept the ballgame even throughout the opening frame of the first half. Neither side was able to take a commanding lead until Morningside went on a 9-0 run to take a double-digit lead that they maintained until halftime, sending the Bulldogs to the locker room with a 45-30 score.
Concordia came back onto the court struggling to keep themselves competitive in the second half. Morningside’s lead lessened, but it was still a daunting challenge for a Concordia team that lost to them just a few weeks ago.
The Bulldogs, however, took that to task and went on a 9-0 run to put the score within one. The Mustangs were just able to maintain their lead until they were able to extend it once again and end the game with a double-digit win.
Concordia shot 27-60 for a 45 percent field goal rate with a 7-28 or 25 percent 3-pointer rate. Concordia had more turnovers than Morningside going 16-10 and allowing the Mustangs to put up 20 points off those turnovers compared to the Bulldogs’ 14. Morningside out blocked 4-1 and out stole 11-7 as well.
Senior Tristan Smith was not the only hooper this time against Morningside. He had 34 against the Mustangs back in November but had 19 points in the game this time around. He was just barely outscored by fellow senior Noah Schutte who had 20. Smith and Schutte also lead the team in rebounds with seven apiece. Smith and junior Zac Kulus lead the team in assists with three apiece.
The Bulldogs move to 4-3 overall and 1-3 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. They next face Briar Cliff University at 3:45 p.m. in Seward on Dec. 7.
