Jan. 31, 2015 - The third-place game of the 75th annual Concordia Invitational Tournament provided a third meeting this season (and month) between conference rivals Concordia-Chicago and Concordia Wisconsin. The Cougars were looking for some measure of revenge after the Falcons had taken the first two meetings on Jan. 7 in Mequon and Jan. 24 in River Forest. However, the Falvons' shooting was at high efficiency today as they opened up a big halftime lead and rolled to a 95-71 victory.
The opening minutes saw both teams come out a little overanxious before reigning in their emotions. Patrick Phillip (Kissimmee, FL/Osceola) scored CUC's first four points, and Brandon Stinson's (Schiller Park, IL/East Leyden) runner in the lane gave the Cougars their only lead of the day at 6-4. But the Falcons tied it up and then took the lead on Eric Kittel's three at the 15:06 mark. The Falcons scored the next two baskets to grab a 13-6 lead. Backed by a loud and supportive fanbase, the Cougars stayed close for a while. Adam Giger (Kissimmee, FL/Gateway) came off the bench to hit a couple of threes, the second one getting CUC back within 23-20. But that would be the last Cougars' score for three minutes as the Falcons ran off 10 consecutive points. Kittel and Matt Wilke hit long threes, and Mark Scholz had a three-point play inside to lead the surge. A jumper by
Kostas Doxakis (Thessaloniki, Greece) ended the run, and a three by
Jacob Oakley (Sun Prairie, WI/H.S.) made it an eight-point game. However, a late three by CUW's Bradley Prinsen helped push CUW's lead back into double digits, and the Falcons went to the intermission leading 46-34.
A 12-2 run by the Falcons opened up the second half and put the Cougars in a deep hole. The Falcons hit six of their seven shots in those first few minutes with Keith Kahlfeldt's hook shot in the lane making the score 58-36.
The Cougars tried to make a late run as four straight points by Mike Walmer (Orlando, FL/Orlando Christian) cut the deficit to 15 points with 5:$5 remaining. But the Falcons scored the next six points, effectively putting an end to the game. "I was disappointed that we did not have the edge we needed to play this team today," lamented CUC head coach Tyler Jones. "It seemed as if we left it all on the floor last night (against Concordia Nebraska) and couldn't come back to do what we needed to do in this game today."
Kylan Anderson (Chicago, IL/home schooled) led the Cougars with 13 points (6-12 FG, 1-4 3FG) and was named to the CIT All-Tournament team. Goger was the only other CUC player in double figures with 11 points including 3-6 shooting from downtown. DeAires Blackwell (Chicago, IL/St. Rita) was the Cougars' leader in rebounds with nine, five on the offensive end. All five CUC starters scored in double figures, led by Brett Boettcher and Malcolm Bowers with 16 each. The Falocons shot 40-77 (52 percent) for the game including 8-18 from three-point land.
The Cougars (6-15) will have a week off before returning to action next Saturday when they play at Wisconsin Lutheran College.
