Feb. 17, 2016 - One of the several challenges that the Concordia-Chicago men's basketball team has battled throughout the 2015-16 season has been producing wins in the familiar surroundings of Geiseman Gymnasium. The Cougars had not won there since the home opener way back on Dec. 5 against Edgewood College. But tonight, in the home finale against River Forest rival Dominican University, the Cougars played a brilliant second half and came from behind to earn a 90-85 win over the Stars.

The Stars jumped out to the early lead behind their 6'4" forward Tim Robertson. He scored DU's first nine points, going 4-4 from the field and adding a free throw. A three by Derek Steck gave the visitors a 12-5 lead, but CUC rallied behind their three-point shooting. Rodney Castor (Fort Myers, FL/H.S.) and Justin Saar (Tracy, CA/Merrill F. West) hit from downtown on consecutive trips down the floor to make it a one-point game. The Stars held onto the lead for a while longer, but Mike Walmer (Orlando, FL/Orlando Christian), who matched his career-high of 34 points when the Cougars played at Dominican last month, hit on a jumper and two free throws midway through the half to tie the game at 26-26. 

Concordia-Chicago grabbed a 41-37 lead with 3:49 left in the half on a layup by Adam Castro (Chicago, IL/Guerin Prep) and a three by Walmer. However, Dominican reeled off the next eight points, four by high-scoring guard Josh Mayberry, over the next 2:41. Castro nailed a three to make it a one-point game, but Steck's jumper with 30 seconds remaining let the Star go to the locker room with a 47-44 lead.

Robertson shot 7-9 in the first half as part of a 16-point half, and Mayberry came on late to score 15 (5-9 from the field). Dominican shot a sizzling 60 percent on 18 of 30. Concordia-Chicago got 10 points each from Walmer and DeAires Blackwell (Chicago, IL/St. Rita). The Cougars shot 44 percent overall but stayed close behind 7-18 shooting from long range.

Dominican scored the first four points of the second half and had a chance to go up by 10, but Mayberry's three-pointer was rebounded by Israel Dosie (Chicago, IL/Al Raby). The Cougars then produced a three by Kyle Hoffman (Manitowoc, WI/Lincoln), a banker by Dosie and, following a free throw by Robertson, a three by Castor that tied the game 52-52. The Stars regained the lead briefly but, at the 16:08 mark, Walmer's steal and layup the lead at 55-54. As it turned out, the Stars never reclaimed the lead.

"I thought that in the second half, our defense did a much better job pressuring the sidelines, producing a few turnovers and taking them out of what they were doing earlier in the game," said CUC head coach Randy Rogers. The Cougars' momentum from their defensive play carried over to the offense, as Castro hit a key three. Justin Mack (Bellwood, IL/Walther Lutheran) scored on a second chance, and when Castor connected on two free throws woth 11:34 left, the home team had its biggest lead to that point at 65-56.

As the second half progressed, free throws became a factor for both teams. Players on both sides were dealing with foul trouble, but the Cougars prevailed behind their steady play and their free-throw shooting (19-28 after going just 3-4 in the first half). "It was interesting because we had some combinations of guys that aren't used to playing together as a unit," said Rogers. "They were forced to provide some stability for us down the stretch and, to their credit, they held it together out there. A lot of great efforts individually and collectively earned us this win, a well-deserved one."

Two players singled out by Rogers were Castro with 17 points, 10 in the second half, and Castro with 10 points, including a couple of clutch threes. All in all, five CUC players hit for double figures, led by Walmer's 21. Blackwell added 13 points, followed by Hoffman with 11.

Mayberry led all scorers with a 25-point effort, Robertson was held to three points in the second half but still finished with a solid game of 19 points and nine rebounds.

Concordia-Chicago will wrap up the season with a matinee at Concordia University Wisconsin on Saturday.