Feb. 18, 2015 - Bragging rights for the village of River Forest were at stake this evening when the Concordia University Chicago and Dominican University men's basketball teams squared off for the second time this season, this time at DU's Igini Sports Forum. The two rivals played a spirited contest that entertained the fans on both sides, but it was the CUC fanbase that was happier at the end of the evening as the Cougars defeated the Stars 80-73.
The Cougars hit just two of their first seven shots, although both made baskets were threes, courtesy of Mike Walmer (Orlando, FL/Orlando Christian) and Kylan Anderson (Chicago, IL/home schooled). Brandon Stinson (Schiller Park, IL/East Leyden) assisted on Anderson's bucket and, shortly afterwards, slipped a pass to Adam Giger (Kissimmee, FL/Gateway) for a 10-foot baseline jumper. The play gave Stinson his 100th assist on the season and one of a very few to record consecutive 100-assist seasons. Concordia-Chicago brought more heat as they warmed up to 38 percent shooting from downtown for the half. DeAires Blackwell (Chicago, IL/St. Rita) went long from the right side. Walmer followed up a pair of free throws with a three from the right corner to give CUC an 18-14 lead.
Dominican was comfortable shooting the three-ball as well. Josh Mayberry, who had a monster half with 14 points and 10 rebounds, canned consecutive triples to restore the lead to the home team at 22-20. But Anderson led the Cougars back, nailing three more from downtown. The Cougars would finish the half with eight threes and lead the Stars by a slim 42-41 margin.
The lead exchanged hands a few times in the early minutes of the second half. But, with Dominican leading 49-45, Concordia-Chicago went off on a 12-0 run. Stinson, Blackwell and Stinson again scored on layups while Anderson and Giger hit from behind the arc. Mayberry hit a baseline jumper to interrupt CUC's run, but Giger followed with another three, this one from the left corner, to give Concordia its biggest lead of the night at 60-51.
The Stars stayed within range of the Cougars and closed to within three points three different times. Rich Bodee's three reduced CUC's lead to 65-62 with 6:16 left, but Jacob Oakley (Sun Prairie, WI/H.S.) hit a reverse layup and followed with a three to bump the lead back up to eight. Dominican scored the next five points, but Giger finished at the rim on Stinson's tenth assist of the game. Ryan Modiest answered with a jumper to make the score 72-69, but the Cougars cashed in nine free throws over the final few minutes to wrap up their seventh win of the season, second over the Stars.
Stinson's was just four points off a triple-double as he finished with 12 rebounds and 10 assists. His season total for 25 regular-season games was 108, second in the NACC to Aurora University's Gavin Walker. The 6'3" Stinson also finished with 154 rebounds (6.2), currently eighth in the conference.
Anderson led four Cougars in double figure scoring with 17 points including five of the Cougars' 12 three-pointers, and his 393 points (15.7 average) was good for fourth in the NACC. Walmer and Giger scored 15 points each, and Blackwell recorded 13 points and seven boards. Blackwell finished the season just four rebounds behind Stinson for the team lead, but his 6.3 rebounds put him at seventh in the NACC, just one notch above Stinson.
The Cougars finished 7-18 overall, 5-15 in conference play. They will bid farewell to five departing seniors in Kostas Doxakis (Thessaloniki, Greece), Shalav Hogue (Arad, Israel/Tel Aviv), Cole Reindl (Germantown, WI/H.S.), Charles Ruffing (DePere, WI/Chilton) and Stinson.
