Feb. 16, 2014 - Of the six losses that the Concordia-Chicago men's basketball team has suffered this season by three points or less, today's loss to Lakeland College may have been the most stunning. Leading in the final half-minute, the Cougars saw the Muskies first tie the game and then win it 86-83 on a three-pointer at the buzzer.
The shocking end to the game spoiled what had been a solid effort by the Cougars to upset a Muskies' team currently in search of a third-place finish in the conference race. Trailing 12-9 in the first half following a three by Joey Burris (26 points), the Cougars ran off 11 unanswered points. Mike Walmer (Orlando, FL/Orlando Christian) started the rally with two free throws and ended it with a three while Nat Pearson (Palatine, IL/H.S.) chipped in with a three in-between. Lakeland rallied back to within two points, but Concordia was determined to keep the visitors at bay. Brandon Stinson (Schiller Park, IL/East Leyden) hit a jumper followed by a three. Jacob Oakley (Sun Prairie, WI/H.S.) added a pair of threes to cap another 11-point run and put CUC up 34-21 with 6:18 remaining in the half. The Muskies fought back behind some strong inside play by Stan McKinzie, but the Cougars were able to keep the lead, thanks in part to a late three by Shalav Hogue (Arad, Israel/Tel Aviv). Concordia finished the half with 6-14 outsdide shooting and led Lakeland after 20 minutes, 43-38. Stinson and Walmer got CUC off and running in the second half as they bumped the lead back up to 10 points at 52-42. However, the pace of the game soon slowed down as both teams began to pile up fouls. The Muskies took better advantage and began to chip away at the lead. They finally caught the Cougars on Brandon Hagenow's three-point play at the 7:41 mark to go up 68-67.
The Muskies kept the momentum on their side as they built the lead to 78-72 with four minutes remaining. But five quick points by Kostas Doxakis (Thessaloniki, Greece) and a layup by Marcus Elston (Chicago, IL/Benito Juarez) returned the lead back to the Cougars. Joey Burris hit a three for the Muskies, but Doxakis answered that with a three from the corner to make the score Cougars 82, Muskies 81 with 1:47 left. Lakeland missed on their next two scoring opportunities as the game clock went under a minute. Elston gave the Cougars a two-point lead as he hit the second of two free throws, but the Muskies quickly responded as Hagenow drew a foul and cashed in two free throws with 29.6 left to tie the game.
Both teams had an opportunity in the final half-minute with Oakley missing at one end and Kurt Jansen at the other. The Cougars rebounded Jansen's miss with one second left and burned their last time-out. Opting for a long pass downcourt, the ball sailed over Pearson and the Lakeland defender without being touched before going out of bounds. By rule, the ball came back to the spot of the previous inbounds with Lakeland now having possession, still with one second left. The inbounds pass came to Burris in the left corner who released quickly and watched the ball sail through the net as the horn sounded.
Burris' 26 (10-19 FG, 5-11 3FG, 1-6 FT) led all Lakeland starters in double figures. McKinzie and Hagenow each scored 15. Stinson led CUC with 21 points and 11 rebounds while Elston had 17 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.
The Cougars will conclude the season on Wednesday night when they host Dominican University.
