(Rochester, MI) – Concordia men's basketball went on the road to face Rochester in a WHAC conference matchup on Wednesday evening. The Warriors entered the contest 16-7 overall with a 9-5 WHAC record. The Cardinals consistently hung around throughout the game, making multiple comebacks and eventually pulling ahead late to secure a 72-71 win.
Greg Alexander led Concordia with 19 points in the game, going 4-6 from behind the arc. Jerald Booker scored 17 points in the match. Matt Lockhart chipped in 16 points in the contest. Paul Zysk had a double-double with 10 points and a team-high 14 rebounds.
Jerald Booker made a quick layup to open scoring in the game. A 3-pointer from Greg Alexander gave the Cardinals an early 9-5 lead. Alexander added a spinning layup for an 11-8 advantage at the 14:14 mark.
The Warriors tied the game with a triple but Emmanuel Dominguez put Concordia back on top with a floater. After Rochester briefly retook the lead, a quick drive from Bernard Kasanda tied the game 19-19 with 8:17 left to play.
The Warriors' biggest lead of the 1st half came with a 26-21 advantage, but the Cardinals began to battle back with a 3-pointer from Matt Lockhart. Lockhart added a pair of free throws and a layup inside after a solid pass from Colton Ritsema, tying the game 28-28.
After Rochester took another 5-point lead, Matt Lockhart continued to pace the CUAA offense with a triple. Emmanuel Dominguez chipped in a 3-pointer to pull the Cardinals within 1 point at the 1:18 mark, but the team trailed 38-34 at halftime.
Jerald Booker drained a pair of free throws to start the 2nd half. Rochester countered with an 8-2 run, but Matt Lockhart kept the Cardinals in the game with a 3-pointer. An old-fashioned three-point play by Paul Zysk began an 8-0 run that tied the game. Jerald Booker finished the run with a layup at the 13:56 mark to make the score 49-49.
Greg Alexander knocked down a triple and Matt Lockhart used a floater to put the Cardinals back on top for the first time since the 1st half. Alexander added a stepback 3-pointer and a pair of free throws to give Concordia a 61-58 lead with 7:31 remaining.
Greg Alexander continued a stretch of scoring 11 straight CUAA points with another 3-pointer, and a quick drive inside by Jerald Booker put the Cardinals ahead 69-68 with 2:43 to go. After the Warriors reclaimed a 1-point lead, Booker used a reverse layup to put Concordia ahead again.
Rochester's Armand Cartwright drew a foul with 25 seconds remaining, splitting a 1-and-1 opportunity to tie the game 71-71. The Cardinals had the opportunity to hold for the last shot but the Warriors elected to foul Paul Zysk.
Zysk made the first free throw but missed the second, allowing Rochester one last chance for a go-ahead basket. However, the CUAA defense held strong and Concordia held on to claim the 72-71 win.
The Cardinals improve to 9-16 overall and 5-10 in WHAC play after earning their second straight conference win. The team will return home on Saturday, February 8 when they host Aquinas. Tip-off is set for 3pm following the conclusion of the women's game.
