Bulldogs enjoy efficient offensive night in blowout win over Doane 106-69

Photo description: Freshman Brooks Kissinger takes a daring shot at the basket. 

Photo credit: Esther Molina

Darien Semedo

Sower Staff

​The Concordia (11-4, 6-3) men’s basketball team defeated the Doane Tigers 106-69 behind big nights from juniors Noah Shutte and Bradley Bennett.

In their first game with students back in the stands from the winter recess, the Bulldogs came out with high energy on the defensive side in Friedrich Arena. The Tigers struggled to get their offense in any type of flow, finding themselves having to take rushed shots against the shot clock.

Most shots were heavily contested, leading to the Tigers to shoot 40.9 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs finished with 10 steals, forced 13 total turnovers, and sent back five shots. On the glass, the Bulldogs finished with 37 compared to 28 led by Schutte and freshman Lukas Hiems with six each.

On offense, Schutte led the way with 27 points on an efficient 11-14 from the field. Schutte paces the offense in scoring this season and has done so with aggressive drives and a silky touch around the rim.

Head coach Ben Limbach surrounds Schutte and junior Tristian Smith with shooters, including Bennett, who made his first 6 three-point attempts. Bennett finished the night with 19 while shooting 6-8 from the field (6-7 from 3), seemingly finding his stroke after a slower start to the season.

As a team, Concordia shot 46.2 percent from three, with Bennett representing half of the team’s makes. Schutte and sophomore Jaxon Weyand led with five assists, while freshman Jaxon Stueve added 12 points on the night from the bench. Schutte thought the team played their brand of ball and was excited to see Bennett have a hot night.

“​I think we played our style of game, getting in transition out the gate. After the long pause we stayed together and loose and continued to push through in the end of the first half and into the second before it got out of hand,” Schutte said. “It gets his [Bennett] confidence up. He hasn’t made as many threes as he wanted the last couple of games, so we found him in transition and got him a couple easy looks and I think he got his groove back now.”

​A break occurred due to a Doane player suffering an apparent leg injury. Fred Cruqui was taken out of the arena in an ambulance, but information on his injuries is not available. Both teams sent their wishes with Cruqui, while President Bull of Concordia University prayed over him. Both teams then huddled and prayed for Cruqui after the game.

​The Bulldogs will now turn their attention to the Dordt Defenders (12-4 5-3) on Saturday, Jan. 13 in Friedrich Arena. The Defenders get up a lot of shots, leading to an average of 88.3 points per game at a quality 49.7 percent shooting percentage. The Defenders also rebound at a high rate, so the Bulldogs will have their hands full trying to stack wins in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.