(Chicago, IL) – Concordia men's basketball competed against Concordia-Nebraska in the first round of the 69th annual Concordia Invitational Tournament. The Cardinals came into the match 6-14 overall while the Bulldogs entered with a 14-6 mark. Concordia-Nebraska jumped ahead early and CUAA was unable to come back in a 79-59 loss.

Jerald Booker led the Cardinals with 12 points in the game. Greg Alexander was also in double figures with 10 points. Paul Zysk led the team with 6 rebounds.

Colton Ritsema knocked down a 3-pointer for CUAA's first basket of the game, ending a 5-0 Bulldog run. Triples from Jerald Booker and Greg Alexander kept the Cardinals in the contest as the team trailed 16-9 at the 12:30 mark.

Bernard Kasanda made a jumpshot and Jerald Booker added an offensive putback, but Concordia-Nebraska used a 10-2 run later in the half to take a 32-15 lead with 5:29 left to play. Booker ended the Bulldogs' run with a jumper and Tyler Black added a pair of free throws.

Paul Zysk and Jerald Booker scored in the final minutes of the 1st half. A buzzer-beating triple by the Bulldogs gave them a 50-24 lead at halftime.

Greg Alexander opened scoring in the 2nd half with a 3-pointer from the right side. Alexander added a layup and Jordan Winowiecki scored as well to complete a 6-0 run.

Matt Lockhart drained two free throws as the Cardinals tried to keep pace, but the Bulldogs continued to keep their lead above 20 points. Emmanuel Dominguez knocked down a triple, Tyler Black notched a pair of free throws and Jordan Winowiecki sank a shot from behind the arc.

Winowiecki drained another triple at the 5:50 mark to cut the deficit to 68-48. Colton Ritsema made a layup off a feed from Kip French and Emmanuel Dominguez scored his second 3-pointer of the game. Tyler Whisman converted a layup at the 1:27 mark, but the Bulldogs secured a 79-57 win as time expired.

The Cardinals will play in the consolation game tomorrow at 4:00pm against the loser of the Concordia Chicago-Concordia Wisconsin game this evening.