Feb.14, 2015 - A late comeback attempt by the Concordia-Chicago men's basketball team fell short as the Marian University Sabres defeated the Cougars 73-67 in CUC's final home game for the 2014-15 season this afternoon.

Today was Senior Day for the men's program, and CUC head coach Tyler Jones started the five seniors on the Cougars' roster - Kostas Doxakis (Thessaloniki, Greece), Shalav Hogue (Arad, Israel), Cole Reindl (Germantown, WI/H.S.), Charles Ruffing (DePere, WI/Chilton) and Brandon Stinson (Schiller Park, IL/East Leyden). All five scored in the early going, highlighted by threes from Reindl and Hogue. Moments later, Ruffing hit a layup off a slick feed from Hogue, and the Cougars led 14-12 at the 12:43 mark.

At that point, the Cougars would hit a brick wall in going scoreless for over seven minutes. The Sabres struck for 17 consecutive points capped by Adam Stecker's three before Adam Giger's (Kissimmee, FL/Gateway) jumper at the 5:14 mark put CUC back in the scoring column. Marian eventually extended its lead to 15 before a basket by Hogue and a three by Doxakis made the halftime score Sabres 37, Cougars 27.

Marian got out of the gates quickly in the second half, sparked by two early scores by Montrell Hobbs. When Stecker was fouled on a three-point try and knocked down all free throws, the Sabres led 50-32.

The visitors owned a 12-point lead at the 7:36 mark before the Cougars put together a spirited rally.  Tino Vazquez (Chicago, IL/Proviso East) and Kylan Anderson (Chicago, IL/home schooled) scored from in close, and Anderson followed with a three to make it a five-point game. Hobbs tallied to put the MU lead back at seven, but Mike Walmer (Orlando, FL/Orlando Christian) drilled a three from the left wing. Then, following a steal by Patrick Phillip (Kissimmee, FL/Osceola), Stinson fed Anderson on the break for a layup, and the Cougars were within 60-58 at 3:28 as the Geiseman crowd roared.

With the Cougars looking to complete their comeback, their hopes were dashed by Stecker. The Marian guard hit a pair of threes over the next minute as the Eagles' lead ballooned to eight. Stinson scored to interrupt the Sabres' run, but the Cougars would get no closer than six points the rest of the way, even with Doxakis hitting a final three at the buzzer.

The Cougars had two more field goals than the Sabres but were let down by 9-35 shooting from three-point range while Marian went 6-11. The Sabres enjoyed a marked advantage at the free throw line, going 21-32 to the Cougars' 8-11. Rebounds also went to the visitors 37-29, but Marian also had three more turnovers (17-14).

Stecker's late three-point shooting gave him game-high scoring honors with 19 points (5-9 FG, 4-6 3FG, 5-5 FT). Josh Creed added 15 points, and Hobbs tallied 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Anderson and Hogue tied for CUC scoring honors with 11 points each, Hogue's output coming as a career-high. Stinson scored eight points and handed out eight assists. Two more assists for Stinson in the Cougars' finale will give him 100 assists in consecutive seasons.

Concordia (6-18, 4-15 NACC) will wrap up the season on Wednesday night with a game against crosstown rival Dominican University. The game will be played at DU's Igini Sports Forum.