Men’s Basketball Holds Off Warriors
by Jacy Johnston
The Concordia Bulldogs won a tight battle over Midland University 91-85 in Walz Arena on Feb. 10.
The Bulldogs started the game off hot with a quick 8-2 lead over Midland and continued to expand the lead to 17-10 halfway through the half. But the Midland Warriors crawled back in the game and trailed 23-20 by the eight minute mark. Early foul trouble for the Bulldogs created unique matchup situations on the floor defensively. With under five minutes to play, the Warriors gained their first lead of the game. The lead continued to flip-flop until half time. The Warriors controlled the lead at the break 38-35.
Junior Chandler Folkerts started the offense for the Bulldogs in the second half, but the Warriors did not go away. Concordia led 43-41 with 16:57 to play. Midland gained a slight lead, only to have it taken away with a 3-point shot from junior Eli Ziegler with 10 minutes on the clock. The back and forth action continued as the teams traded buckets for the lead while the clock ran down.
Junior Rudy Knight changed the tides with a clutch 3-pointer to give Concordia a 74-71 lead with 4:27 on the clock. Folkerts built off this momentum to contribute a bucket and foul shot to create a two-possession lead for Concordia, 77-73. The Bulldogs maintained the two-possession lead despite multiple attempts by the Warriors to cut into the deficit. Concordia ended the game with a 91-85 victory to move to 17-10 on the year and 9-9 in the GPAC.
Folkerts dominated the offensive end and put up 32 points for the Bulldogs. Seniors Jamie Pearson and Robby Thomas netted 22 and 13 points respectively. The Bulldogs closed the game shooting 17-for-19 from the free throw line.
Concordia’s GPAC play will continue with a matchup against Northwestern on Saturday, Feb. 13 in Walz Arena. The final game of the regular season will take place a week later as the team travels to Iowa to play Briar Cliff on February 20.
