(Grand Rapids, MI) – Concordia men's basketball traveled to Aquinas on Saturday afternoon to continue WHAC conference play. Both teams came into the match with 2 conference wins on the year. While the lead changed hands several times throughout the game, the Cardinals used an 11-22 shooting performance from behind the arc to pull away and defeat Aquinas 81-74.
Paul Zysk (SR/Somerset, MI) led Concordia with 20 points in the game. Greg Alexander (SR/Middle River, MD) came in second with 18 points and tied Zysk for a team-high 5 rebounds. Jerald Booker (SR/Southfield, MI) and Thomas Hronis (JR/North Ridgeville, OH) were also in double figures with 10 points apiece.
Paul Zysk scored the first basket of the game with a jumper. Greg Alexander sank a three-pointer to put the Cardinals ahead 5-4 early in the game. Thomas Hronis drained a triple from the left wing to give Concordia a 12-8 lead with 16:08 remaining.
Jerald Booker made a quick steal and a layup and Greg Alexander knocked down another 3-pointer. Colton Ritsema (SO/Jenison, MI) hit a hook shot with 12:07 left for a 19-16 lead, but the Saints used a 6-0 run to pull ahead.
Thomas Hronis drilled a 3-pointer to tie the game and start a 7-0 run. Jerald Booker and Hronis completed the run with layups to put CUAA up 26-22. 3-pointers from Booker and Emmanuel Dominguez (SR/Groveland, FL) completed a 6-6 start for the Cardinals shooting from behind the arc.
A 6-1 run by Aquinas tightened the game late in the half. Thomas Hronis knocked down a late jumper and CUAA led 39-36 at halftime.
Bernard Kasanda (SO/Lawerenceville, GA) hit a jumpshot for Concordia's first basket in the 2nd half. An 8-0 run by Aquinas pushed the Saints ahead 46-41, but the Cardinals used a 9-3 run to retake the lead after a Tyler Black (JR/Grand Rapids, MI) 3-pointer.
Jordan Winowiecki (SO/Fraser, MI) made a jumper as the lead changed hands and Jerald Booker made a shot from behind the arc. Tyler Black made a pair of free throws and Winowiecki knocked down a triple to give CUAA a 60-53 lead with 8:32 remaining.
Greg Alexander made a layup and a 3-pointer to give the Cardinals their first double-digit lead of the game with a 65-55 advantage. Alexander added another triple as Concordia continued to have an efficient game from behind the arc.
The Cardinals stayed in the lead with another pair of free throws and a layup from Paul Zysk. As the final minutes wound down Emmanuel Dominguez, Greg Alexander and Tyler Black converted their shots at the charity stripe to help secure the game. Concordia came away with an 81-74 victory as time expired.
The Cardinals improve to 6-10 overall and 3-5 in WHAC conference play with the win. Concordia will return home on Wednesday, January 8 when the team hosts Cornerstone. Tip-off is set for 8pm following the conclusion of the women's game.
