Dec. 20, 2014 - The Concordia-Chicago men's basketball team hosted Wisconsin Lutheran College at Geiseman Gymnasium this afternoon, hoping for the momentum of a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference victory to take into an 11-day layoff. However, the visiting Warriors jumped out to a quick start and never looked back as they defeated the Cougars by a final score of 69-49.
Wisconsin Lutheran guard Jake Jarnigo proved the biggest thorn in the Cougars' flesh today as he scored a game-high 27 points. He tallied seven of WLC's first nine points in getting the visitors out to a quick lead. The Warriors led 13-5 before CUC's Adam Giger (Kissimmee, FL/Gateway) scored five straight points. Brandon Stinson (Schiller Park, IL/East Leyden) and Tino Vazquez (Chicago, IL/Proviso East) followed with scores to give the Cougars a 14-13 lead at the 12:59 mark. The Cougars' edge did not last long however, as Kyle Stelse converted on a three-point play to give the Warriors a lead they would never let slip away. Stelse's play triggered a 12-0 run which was capped off by Jarnigo's long three and Brett Lubbe's layup. Vazquez interrupted the run with a three, but Jarnigo answered that with another from downtown for a 28-17 lead. The Warriors would keep their lead in double digits for the remainder of the half, and the score would stand at WLC 43, CUC 30 after 20 minutes.
A Concordia comeback was not in the cards owing to a second half in which the Cougars shot just 17 percent from the field. Trailing 47-35 at the 16-minute mark, CUC would score just four points over the next 11 minutes. The Warriors opened up an 18-point lead by the midway mark of the half, and both teams were able to empty their benches down the stretch.
Joining Jarnigo in double-digit scoring for WLC were Stelse with 15 and Lubbe with 10. Lubbe also pulled down 10 rebounds and Nate Siemers nine as the Warriors captured 44 rebounds to the Cougars' 34.
Giger finished with 14 points and eight rebounds to lead the Cougars. Vazquez chipped in with 12 points.
The Cougars return to NACC action on Dec. 31 when they play a matinee at Rockford University. They will return home to host the Milwaukee School of Engineering on Jan. 3.
