Nov. 16, 2013 - The Concordia University Chicago men's basketball team faced a tough challenge in its 2013-14 regular-season opener. The Robert Morris University (Chicago) Eagles provided the opposition, and the two teams had the occasion to christen RMU's new Athletic and Convocation Center in Arlington Heights. The Cougars stayed with the NAIA sixth-ranked Eagles for much of the evening, but a key stretch in the second half allowed the hosts to finally pull away and go on to win by a final score of 80-61.
Kashaune McKinney hit a two and a three to open the game, and Greg Travis converted on a steal and breakaway for a 7-0 lead before the Cougars fought back on two free throws by Nat Pearson (Palatine, IL/H.S.) and a driving layup by Mike Walmer (Orlando, FL/Orlando Christian). Sean Montgomery extended the hosts' lead up to eight points, but Pearson went inside again for his second bucket to trim the lead to 12-6. The Cougars continued to challenge the Eagles inside and managed to force RMU into five fouls in the first six minutes.
Pearson continued to power the Cougars' engine as he scored eight of the team's first 10 points. The rest of the Cougars followed his lead, and the persistent aggressive play put the Eagles at 10 fouls by the halfway point of the first half.
The Eagles stretched their lead to 12 by way of some three-point shooting, but the Cougars kept coming relentlessly. Walmer made good on a three-point play, and Jake Oakley (Sun Prairie, WI/H.S.) knocked down the Cougars' first long-range three of the night. Brandon Stinson (Schiller Park, IL/East Leyden) followed with a spinner in the lane, and Concordia was back in the hunt. The two teams played on even terms for the remainder of the half, and the Cougars' deficit after 20 minutes was just six points, 39-33.
The halftime stats showed the Cougars and Eagles even on the boards with 21 each while Concordia shot slightly better from the field (43 to 42 percent). Robert Morris had an edge from long range with five threes to Concordia's one.
As the second half began, the Eagles began to concentrate their attack inside more consistently, but the Cougars stayed close. Marcus Elston (Chicago, IL/Benito Juarez) scored three early baskets to keep Concordia within single digits.
Midway through the half, Robert Morris finally opened up its lead. After Elston's third basket made the score RMU 51, CUC 44, the hosts went on a 9-0 spree launcehed by Cortney Bell's tip-in. The Eagles did their damage underneath with Montgomery, Maurice Williams and Bell again all scoring on layups. Pearson hit a three to end the run and later added another, but the Eagles had found their rhythm and were able to hold off any further challenges from the Cougars.
Robert Morris shot 18 of 36 overall for the second half but 17 of 29 inside the three-point arc. Meanwhile, Concordia managed just nine of 35 over the final 20 minutes and also missed six free throws. The final rebound totals showed Robert Morris with the slimmest of advantages, 46 caroms to CUC's 45.
Pearson finished with 18 points including 6-8 from the free throw line to lead the Cougars. Walmer added 14 points, and Elston chipped in with 12 points and 11 rebounds. RMU's Montgomery led all scorers with 21 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Bell added 11 points and seven rebounds, and Jorddan Hester had six points to go with a team-leading 11 rebounds.
The Cougars (0-1) will host conference foe Rockford University in Wednesday night's home opener at 7 p.m.
