Nov. 28, 2015 - The first game for the Concordia-Chicago men's basketball team under new head coach Randy Rogers did not result in a victory, but it certainly did not lack for action either. The Cougars and host Fontbonne University went at each other at breakneck speed for 40 minutes this afternoon before the Griffins raced across the finish line with a 112-102 win in St. Louis.

Fontbonne entered the game with five games already under their belts against some challenging opponents. But the disparity in game experience did not greatly affect the Cougars, accoring to Rogers. "I thought that we were able to come out and play the type of game that we wanted to play, at least on offense. I was pleased that we had a great pace and good organization, and a lot of guys contributed as a result. But it's obvious that our defense needs to improve. We gave them too many open shots, and they made us pay for it."

The Griffins came out red-hot to start the game, knocking down seven of their first eight shots. However, Kylan Anderson (Chicago, IL/home schooled) ignited the Cougars by hitting a jumper followed by the first of the team's 13 threes. Midway through the half, a couple of Griffins' misses provided an opportunity for the Cougars to catch up, and threes by Cameron Maxwell (Elkhart, IN/Elkhart Memorial) and Anderson tied the game 23-23.

The Cougars continued to shoot the three, and CUC grabbed a 39-36 lead with five minutes left in the half when Mitch Pelissier (Puyallup, WA/Mount Rainier Lutheran) and LaRon Wade (Chicago, IL/Farragut Academy) connected on consecutive trips down the floor. Moments later, a layup by Anderson gave CUC its largest lead at four, but the Griffins closed the half with a 14-3 run as the Cougars missed seven of their final eight shots from the field,  Fontbonne went up briefly by nine points, but Kris Claybon (Chicago, IL/Michele Clark) scored the final two points of the half to make the halftime score Griffins 54, Cougars 47.

First-half stats showed Fontbonne shooting 55 percent to CUC's 46, and the home team stayed hot early in the second half in quickly stretching the lead to nine. However, the Cougars matched the Griffins with baskets by Justin Saar (Tracy, CA/Merrill F. West) and Mike Walmer (Orlando, FL/Orlando Christian), followed by another three from Pelissier. The teams traded baskets for a few minutes, and Anderson's layup at the 15:40 mark brought the Cougars within 63-60.

However, Anderson's basket would be as close as the Cougars would get. Consecutive threes by Tyler Williams and Rio Justice Chandler triggered a 14-0 run for Fontbonne. Meanwhile, four missed shots and three turnovers stymied CUC over the next few minutes, and it wasn't until a putback by DeAires Blackwell (Chicago, IL/St. Rita) ended the run that the Cougars' offense got back on track. 

The Cougars stayed in pursuit down the stretch as Pelissier, Wade and Anderson hit shots from behind the arc. However, the Griffins were able to hold off the charge by continuing to shoot well from the field. Fontbonne also took advantage of 32 free throws in the second half, making good on 25 of them. Pelissier's fifth three with 42 seconds left broke the century mark and pulled CUC within 109-102, but the hosts scored their final three points from the stripe to lock down the victory.

Concordia-Chicago finished the game with 38-81 shooting for 47 percent, 13-39 from behind the arc, and 13-17 from the free throw line. Anderson led all scorers with 28 points on 11-23 from the field (three three-pointers) and 3-3 free throws. Pelissier enjoyed a fine collegiate debut with 23 points including 5-9 shooting from three-point range; the freshman also added seven rebounds and six assists. Also in double figures for CUC were Claybon with 12 points (and a team-high 10 rebounds), Wade and Blackwell with 11 each, and Walmer with 10.

Fontbonne shot 55 percent overall on 37-67; the Griffins were 50 percent on threes (8-16) and 77 percent from the line on 30-39. The Griffins' other big statistical advantage was on the boards as they owned a 46-35 advantage. Ben Kissing led the Griffins with 27 points (9-15 from the field) and 11 rebounds. Richard Dorhauer added 16 points, six rebounds and five assists from Fontbonne (2-4).

"I was happy that we kept after them and we played hard right up to the end," said Rogers. "We know what we have to work on, and we'll look to be an improved team next time out." The next time for the Cougars will be this Tuesday, Dec. 1 when they play the conference opener at Aurora University.