(Ann Arbor, MI) – Concordia men's basketball hosted the University of Northwestern Ohio in a Saturday afternoon WHAC conference matchup. The Cardinals came in 7-16 overall with a 3-10 WHAC record while the Racers entered 8-15 overall with a 4-9 mark in the WHAC. CUAA weathered a comeback by the Racers before pulling away for a critical 83-71 WHAC win.
Jordan Winowiecki (SO/Fraser, MI) led the Cardinals with a career high 20 points, going 6-8 from behind the arc. Jerald Booker (SR/Southfield, MI) finished second with 18 points in the game. Paul Zysk (SR/Somerset, MI) led the team with 9 rebounds while tying Bernard Kasanda (SO/Lawerenceville, GA) for third with 9 points.
Jordan Winowiecki began scoring in the game with a 3-pointer. Back-to-back baskets from Bernard Kasanda led to a 7-0 opening run by Concordia. Tyler Black (JR/Grand Rapids, MI) added a basket and a pair of free throws, and a triple from Jerald Booker put the Cardinals ahead 15-5 at the 13:27 mark.
Jerald Booker and Matt Lockhart (SO/Fraser, MI) chipped in with baskets and a 3-pointer from Bernard Kasanda gave CUAA its first double-digit lead with a 24-14 advantage. The Cardinals continued to stay on top after a 3-pointer by Emmanuel Dominguez (SR/Groveland, FL) made the score 33-25.
Matt Lockhart added a pair of free throws and Tyler Black drove to the basket, but the Racers began to mount a comeback late in the 1st half. A basket by UNOH's Nathan Lessing with 5 seconds remaining tied the game 41-41 heading to halftime.
UNOH took their first lead of the game with 5 unanswered points to begin the 2nd half. Jordan Winowiecki ended the run with a second-chance basket inside and Jerald Booker tied the game 46-46 with a 3-pointer.
Both teams continued to exchange baskets with Jordan Winowiecki drilling a triple for the Cardinals. Matt Lockhart tied the game with a free throw and Jerald Booker drove the length of the court for another game-tying layup. Paul Zysk put Concordia back in front with a layup to make the score 54-53.
Jordan Winowiecki began to propel the Cardinals' offense with three straight 3-pointers, giving the team a 63-56 lead with 9:54 left to play and forcing a UNOH timeout. Greg Alexander (SR/Middle River, MD) and Emmanuel Dominguez added triples as well, but the Racers tightened the game to a 2-point margin with a 73-71 score at the 3:42 mark.
Jordan Winowiecki answered the Racers' run with his sixth 3-pointer of the night, beginning a 10-0 run to close the game. Jerald Booker added a triple and Bernard Kasanda, Emmanuel Dominguez and Booker chipped in free throws in the final minute. Concordia claimed the 83-71 win as time expired.
The Cardinals improve to 8-16 overall and 4-10 in the WHAC. The team will return to action on the road this Wednesday, February 5 when they travel to Rochester. Tip-off is set for 7:30pm following the conclusion of the women's game.
