(Ann Arbor, MI) – Concordia men's basketball faced off against rival Siena Heights on Saturday evening. The game was the WHAC conference opener for the Cardinals while the Saints entered 2-2 overall and 1-0 in WHAC play. Both teams fought for the lead early in the game, but CUAA pulled ahead to secure a 75-61 victory.
Emmanuel Dominguez (SR/Groveland, FL) led Concordia with 21 points in the game. Jerald Booker (SR/Southfield, MI) finished second with 20 points, going a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line. Greg Alexander (SR/Middle River, MD) was also in double figures with 16 points. Paul Zysk (SR/Somerset, MI) led the team with 6 rebounds and 4 blocks while adding 6 points.
After Siena Heights started the game on a 4-0 run, Jerald Booker made a steal and a layup to put Concordia on the board. Booker added a triple and another basket and Greg Alexander drained a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 11-10. Paul Zysk scored a layup in the paint to give the Cardinals their first lead.
With the score tied 14-14, Colton Ritsema (SO/Jenison, MI) scored in the paint to put Concordia back on top. Matt Lockhart (SO/Fraser, MI) knocked down a pair of baskets to give CUAA a 20-19 advantage at the 6:23 mark as the lead continued to change hands.
The Cardinals made a 9-3 run down the stretch to take the lead into halftime. Jerald Booker made a pair of free throws and a triple during the run and Tyler Black (JR/Grand Rapids, MI) scored the last basket of the 1st half. Concordia headed to the locker room with a 29-22 lead.
Emmanuel Dominguez began to catch fire in the 2nd half, scoring the first Concordia basket of the half. From the 16:09 to the 12:50 mark, Dominguez scored the next 11 Cardinal points to give his team a 44-34 lead.
A 3-pointer from Jordan Winowiecki (SO/Fraser, MI) extended the CUAA advantage. Greg Alexander knocked down a triple and added another basket to give the Cardinals their largest lead of the game with the score at 54-36.
A 9-3 run by Siena Heights pulled the Saints slightly closer, but Emmanuel Dominguez and Jerald Booker continued to score to maintain the Concordia lead. Greg Alexander along with Dominguez and Booker made free throws down the stretch to help secure the game. CUAA claimed a 74-61 victory as time expired.
The Cardinals improve to 3-3 overall and 1-0 in conference play with the win. The team will play their next game on Tuesday, November 19 when they host Taylor. Tipoff is set for 7pm.
