Comeback bid falls just short for men’s basketball against Broncos on the road

Photo description: Freshman Lukas Helms maneuvers the ball around an opponent. 

Photo credit: Esther Molina (photo from previous game)

Darien Semedo

Sower Staff

The Concordia Bulldogs (11-5, 6-4) lost the comeback bid on a last second free throw in a tough 79-78 loss against Hastings Broncos (13-4, 8-1).

The Bulldogs got off to a frigid start, going down 1-12 and fouling four times within the first five minutes of the game. The Bulldogs would get back into the game before half, making it a nine point game before half.

Another slow start would put the Bulldogs behind by 52-37. The Bulldogs would eventually tie the game up 69 apiece with five minutes but fall 78-72 with one minute left. Two baskets with fouls from junior Tristan Smith and freshman Lukas Helms would tie the game up 78-78 with only 14 seconds left in the game. An unfortunate foul by Smith would lead to a Hastings free throw for the win.

The Broncos played with a tight rotation, only deploying three rotation players while junior Reggie Thomas played the entire game. Thomas would lead the Broncos with 25 points while two other Hastings starters finished with 20 and 19 points.

The Bulldogs’ defense was engaged and in position often, but it seemed that the Broncos would make every shot at the buzzer. They would only force 9 turnovers on the night as well, leading to very few transition points for the Bulldogs. The Broncos would finish shooting 55.6 percent from the field including 8-20 from the three-point line.

Head Coach Ben Limbach has not been afraid to use his depth, playing 11 total players on the night. Smith (15) would lead the team on offense, while junior Noah Schutte (11), freshman Jaxon Stueve (11), and Helms (10) would finish in double digits.

The Bulldogs’ depth is young but prepared as every bench player would score. Limbach likes to play positionless basketball by using tall, lengthy, and athletic forwards to cause mismatches on offense and flexibility on defense. Schutte had a rough game compared to his standards this season, so he will look to bounce back quickly this weekend in Seward. Overall, the Bulldogs shot 51.7 percent from the field, but shot 11-17 from the free throw line including three late misses in the second half.

The Bulldogs will now prepare for the Briar Cliff Chargers (10-7, 4-5) who have hit a rough patch in their season as of late. The Chargers snapped a six game losing streak Wednesday against Jamestown in a one point thriller and will look to build momentum to overtake the Bulldogs in the Great Plains Athletic Conference standings in Seward on Saturday.