(Kalamazoo, MI) – Concordia men's basketball played their final game before the Christmas break when they traveled to Kalamazoo College. The NCAA Division III Hornets entered the game 3-8 overall. The Cardinals pulled ahead late in the 1st half and withstood a late Kalamazoo rally to earn the 89-84 win.
Greg Alexander posted a double-double, leading Concordia with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Jerald Booker finished second with 21 points in the game. Bernard Kasanda and Thomas Hronis were also in double figures with 11 points apiece.
Greg Alexander opened scoring in the game with a 3-pointer. Paul Zysk made a layup and a jumper to open a 7-3 lead just under 2 minutes into the game. Jordan Winowiecki knocked down a triple as well, but Kalamazoo fought back to tie the game 10-10 at the 16:39 mark.
Bernard Kasanda broke the tie with a 3-pointer and Jerald Booker added another shot from behind the arc just over a minute later. Greg Alexander scored a layup and a pair of free throws to put CUAA ahead 24-19 with 12:32 remaining.
After the Hornets narrowed the gap to just 1 point, Thomas Hronis knocked down a triple to keep Concordia in the lead. Kalamzoo College used a 6-0 run late in the half to take their first lead of the game, pulling ahead 34-32 at the 6:00 mark.
Bernard Kasanda tied the game again with a layup and the game continued to remain close throughout the 1st half. Colton Ritsema pulled the Cardinals back ahead with a pair of free throws and both Emmanuel Dominguez and Jerald Booker also drained shots at the charity stripe. With 9 seconds remaining Thomas Hronis knocked down a 3-pointer from the right corner and CUAA led 47-41 at halftime.
Bernard Kasanda started the 2nd half with a midrange jumper. Kalamazoo made a 5-0 run, but Greg Alexander countered with a 3-pointer. Alexander later added a spinning layup in the paint, and a Jerald Booker 3-pointer made it a 59-50 CUAA lead with 14:34 to go.
After Kalamazoo cut the lead to 59-55, the Cardinals answered with a 10-4 run behind triples from Greg Alexander, Thomas Hronis and Bernard Kasanda. Concordia worked to keep a double-digit lead with Emmanuel Dominguez also connecting from behind the arc.
The Hornets continued to fight late in the game, pulling within 5 points with an 80-75 score at the 2:32 mark. Greg Alexander made a pair of free throws and a reverse layup as the Cardinals looked to close out the match.
Kalamazoo got as close as 4 points late in the game, but the Concordia defense forced several missed shots and made critical rebounds. Greg Alexander made 3 more free throws in the final seconds and CUAA brought home the 89-84 victory.
Concordia improves to 5-10 overall with the win. The Cardinals will rest up over Christmas break and then prepare to face NCAA Division I Eastern Michigan University on Monday, December 30. Tip-off is set for 2pm.
