(Upland, IN) – Concordia men's basketball traveled to Taylor for their season opener on Saturday afternoon. Both teams looked to get the 2020 campaign off to a good start with a victory. The Cardinals erased an early deficit to take a late 67-66 lead, but the Trojans came back to secure a 98-86 victory.
Thomas Hronis led Concordia with 34 points in the game, going 10-15 from behind the arc. Kip French and Zackary Johnson were also in double figures with 10 points apiece. Johnson and C.J. Moore tied for the team high with 4 rebounds each.
Jaedyn Carter scored Concordia's first basket of the game, tying the score 2-2. Taylor jumped out to a 9-2 lead, but a triple from Zackary Johnson cut into the deficit. With the Cardinals trailing 16-5, an old-fashioned three-point play from Bernard Kasanda began a 9-2 CUAA run. Devyn Jones and Thomas Hronis drained triples to cut the deficit to 18-14.
Colton Ritsema converted a layup in the paint near the midway point of the 1st half. Thomas Hronis began to heat up behind the arc with a pair of triples, pulling the Cardinals within 5 points with a 34-29 deficit at the 6:02 mark. Kip French made 4 free throws in the final 8 seconds of the half and CUAA trailed 51-45 at halftime.
After a 7-0 Taylor run, Colton Ritsema had the first Cardinal basket in the 2nd half. Thomas Hronis made another pair of 3-pointers as Concordia trailed 60-53 with 15:50 left to play. Hronis continued to pace the Cardinals with 9 straight points on 2 triples and 3 free throws, tying the game 64-64 at the 12:16 mark.
A triple from Zackary Johnson gave Concordia their first lead of the game with a score of 67-66. However, Taylor was able to reclaim the lead and eventually rebuild a double-digit advantage. While the Cardinals continued to battle late in the game, the team suffered a 98-86 loss.
The Cardinals will hold their home opener on Wednesday, October 28 when the team hosts Grace. Tip-off is set for 7:30pm.
