(Spring Arbor, MI) - The Concordia Men's Basketball team headed to Spring Arbor to take on the Cougars for a midday matinee game. The game saw multiple lead changes in the final minutes as they would play to an 83-83 tie in regulation. The Cougars would wind up outscoring the Cardinals in the extra period to pick up the 99-94 win.
The Cardinals came into the game with a 1-0 record, while the Cougars were 3-1.
FIRST-HALF
The opening possession would go to Spring Arbor as they would grab a three-point bucket for the first points of the game. Following two SAU free throws, Concordia would get their first bucket on an "and-1" from Dylan Jergens as he buried the ensuing free throw. The following CUAA possession would see a three from Jergens for the first lead of the game. The next nine Cardinal points came from Zavion McClendon on three consecutive three-point shots.
Joey Garwood would break up a short SAU run with a layup of his own. Both teams would keep battling back and forth throughout the rest of the half as the two teams would tie the game at 20, 22, and 27. The Cardinals ended the half on an 11-4 run as Devyn Jones and Jergens scored four apiece and McClendon scored a three.
FIRST-HALF LEADERS
Zavion McClendon led the team with 16 points at the break as he went 4-5 on three-point attempts. Dylan Jergens was not far behind in the point department with 13. Jergens also led the team with five steals.
SECOND-HALF
Devyn Jones opened the second half scoring with a layup for his sixth point of the game as he scored the first 9 points for the CUAA. The Cougars would claw their way back into the game throughout the next seven minutes as they would take their first lead of the half on a three-point bucket. The SAU 16-4 run was halted as Dylan Jergens scored a bucket.
The final eight minutes saw the Cardinals attempt to mount a comeback as they tied the game at 83 following a Mark DeVries bucket and a Joey Garwood steal and bucket on the ensuing possession. Concordia's attempt to score at the buzzer would not happen as time ran out.
SECOND-HALF LEADERS
The leaders in the second half were Dylan Jergens with 13, Devyn Jones with 12, and Zavion McClendon with eight. Jones had three steals in the second half.
OVERTIME
After a couple of team turnovers by both sides, Zavion McClendon scored the first points of the extra period with back-to-back free throws. Both sides would trade the lead as SAU scored a three, followed by a Joey Garwood three, and then a SAU two-pointer to retie the game at 88. McClendon gave CUAA the lead on a tough shot in the paint, but the lead lasted 13 seconds with a Cougar layup.
The final 30 seconds saw SAU score and take a 93-90 lead, followed by a Garwood drive to the basket. The Cardinals would have to foul down a point and the Cougars would make their next four free throws. Dylan Jergens grabbed two late points before the final two points would come from Spring Arbor.
OVERTIME LEADERS
Joey Garwood recorded five points in the extra period as Zavion McClendon scored four. Devyn Jones tallied two steals in overtime as well.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals head back to the hardwood on Saturday when they open up Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) play against the Blue Devils from Lawrence Tech on Saturday, November 11 with a 3 PM tipoff.
