(Lima, OH) – Concordia men's basketball continued WHAC conference play with a Saturday afternoon game against the University of Northwestern Ohio. The Racers entered the match 2-9 overall and 0-5 in WHAC conference play. CUAA jumped out to a quick start and maintained their lead throughout the game, earning a 95-86 victory.
Greg Alexander (SR/Middle River, MD) led Concordia with 21 points in the game. Thomas Hronis (JR/North Ridgeville, OH) finished second with 17 points, going 5-7 from behind the arc. Tyler Black (JR/Grand Rapids, MI) came in third with 16 points and Jerald Booker (SR/Southfield, MI) was also in double figures with 13 points. Colton Ritsema (SO/Jenison, MI) had a team-high 6 rebounds while adding 8 points.
A layup from Jerald Booker opened scoring in the game, beginning a 6-0 Concordia run. 3-pointers from Greg Alexander and Jordan Winowiecki (SO/Fraser, MI) gave the Cardinals a 12-5 lead at the 16:45 mark. Alexander made a spinning layup and a pullup jumper, prompting a UNOH timeout with CUAA up 11 points.
Concordia continued to convert on offense with Thomas Hronis scoring a layup on a give-and-go with Colton Ritsema. The Cardinals began to make shots from behind the arc with Tyler Black dropping in a triple and Thomas Hronis knocking down a pair of 3-pointers. UNOH took another timeout with CUAA ahead 27-11 with 11:37 to go.
The Racers regrouped after the timeout, using an 11-2 run to lower Concordia's lead to 29-22. Thomas Hronis ended the run with a 3-pointer and Greg Alexander also drained a triple to push the lead back to double digits. Hronis added another triple and Tyler Black rolled in a basket off the high glass on the fast break.
Thomas Hronis and Emmanuel Dominguez (SR/Groveland, FL) continued the Cardinals' onslaught from behind the arc with 3-pointers in the final minutes of the first half. With 4 seconds remaining, Greg Alexander blew past his defender and made a layup to put CUAA up 50-41 at halftime.
Jordan Winowiecki scored the first basket of the 2nd half. Jerald Booker and Emmanuel Dominguez knocked down 3-point shots to give the Cardinals a 58-47 lead, prompting a UNOH timeout.
The Racers come out with a vengeance following the break, using a 10-0 run to pull within one point. Jerald Booker ended the run with a strong drive to the hoop and Tyler Black floated in a basket as well. Colton Ritsema had a solid stretch at the free throw line to keep his team in front, scoring CUAA's next 6 points on made free throws.
The Racers continued to keep the game within several points, but a 3-pointer from Emmanuel Dominguez kept the Cardinals ahead. Triples by Tyler Black and Dominguez along with a layup by Jerald Booker completed an 8-0 CUAA run, putting the team up 81-70 at the 7:25 mark.
Concordia continued to stay ahead with Greg Alexander draining a pair of free throws and two layups. Tyler Black made four free throws in the final minute of the game and Bernard Kasanda (SO/Lawerenceville, GA) drained two free throws with 25 seconds remaining. The Cardinals secured the 95-86 victory as time expired.
Concordia improves to 4-9 overall and 2-4 in WHAC play. The Cardinals will return home on Wednesday, December 18 when the team hosts #14 Lourdes in WHAC conference play. Tip-off is set for 7pm.
