(Livonia, MI) – Concordia men's basketball traveled to rival Madonna for a WHAC contest on Wednesday night. The Cardinals pushed the Crusaders to the limit looking to hand them their first conference loss, but Madonna came away with a 78-75 win.

Joey Garwood led the team with 23 points. Zavion McClendon finished a close second with 20 points. Nate Brighton was also in double figures with 12 points. Devyn Jones had a team-high 9 rebounds.

Joey Garwood ended an 8-0 Madonna run with a jumper. Zavion McClendon chipped in four early free throws and Garwood hit a triple to keep the team close. Nate Brighton drained a 3-pointer and McClendon drove to the hoop and made a triple. Nate Brighton made a go-ahead basket and Devyn Jones capped a 10-0 run with an "and-1", putting CUAA ahead 24-18.

Madonna used a 7-0 run to retake the lead, but Joey Garwood drained two 3-pointers to put Concordia back up. Garwood added a third triple and Jason Jergens knocked down a shot behind the arc as well. Dylan Jergens made a pair of free throws for a 39-32 lead at halftime.

Devyn Jones converted a layup to start the second half. Madonna used a 12-0 run to retake the lead until Jones stopped the momentum with another basket. Dylan Jergens caught fire with an "and-1", a 3-pointer and a tip-in. Nate Brighton notched a triple and a layup and a Joey Garwood 3-pointer put CUAA ahead 59-58 just past the midway point.

Both teams continued to battle with Zavion McClendon draining a triple and adding a layup. Joey Garwood added a late triple but the Cardinals found themselves trailing 75-70 with 33 seconds to play.

Zavion McClendon made two free throws and banked in a 3-pointer to trim the deficit to 77-75 with 9 seconds remaining. After Madonna split a one-and-one, Dylan Jergens had a look from behind the arc as time expired but the shot just rimmed out.

Concordia will return home to host Cleary this Saturday at 3pm.