Concordia Controls Final Minutes to Defeat Bearcats, 76-66

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

PORTLAND, ORE. -- Concordia University (Ore.) moved in front for the final time with 8:32 remaining and the Cavaliers controlled the closing minutes to pull away from Willamette University for a 76-66 victory on Tuesday, Dec. 16 at Cavalier Court. Concordia, which trailed 53-49 with 11:04 remaining, ended the game with a 27-13 run.

The Cavaliers, who compete in the NAIA, upped their record to 10-2 on the season. Willamette, which competes in NCAA Division III, dropped to 2-5.

Freshman wing Nico Troplent (Los Angeles, CA/Cathedral HS) scored 15 points and sank a trio of 3-point shots for the Bearcats. Brandon Luedtke (Jr., F, Meridian, ID/Mt. View HS) provided Willamette with 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Brendon McCullough (Fr., G, San Antonio, TX/Home Schooled) also scored 12 points for WU.

In addition, the Bearcats received 10 points and five rebounds from Bridger Harlington (Jr., Wing, Lake Tapps, WA/Auburn Riverside HS). Kyle McNally (Sr., F, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) tied Luedtke for team rebounding honors with eight boards.

Concordia finished with five players in double figures. Davis Nuaimi led the way with 16 points on 5 of 7 shooting, including 3 of 5 three-pointers. Justyn Searle added 15 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked five shots. Tyler Guttierez supplied the Cavaliers with 12 points and eight boards.

Anthony Holton chipped in 11 points for the Cavaliers. Esvan Middleton recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards, while Tyler Velasquez provided a game-high nine assists.

Willamette scored the game's first basket and took a 7-4 lead a bit later when Harlington connected on a 3-point shot with 16:37 on the clock. Concordia tallied the next three points, but Troplent tacked on a 3-pointer to give the Bearcats a 10-7 edge.

The Bearcats also led 14-11 before Cavaliers went on an 8-4 run to take a 19-18 lead. The run ended with four consecutive points on a jumper from Nuaimi and a layup by Gutierrez.

WU responded by surging back in front 21-19 on a 3-pointer by Harlington, and then extended the margin to 23-19 when Harlington added a layup. Concordia scored the next six points on 3-pointers by Nuaimi with 8:50 and 8:12 left in the half.

With 5:30 remaining in the half the Cavaliers took a 29-26 lead when Anthony Holton hit 1 of 2 free throws. WU eventually tied the game 33-33 on a layup from Dylan Critchfield at the 2:43 mark, but Concordia regsitered the last four points of the half to take a 37-33 advantage into the break.

A 10-4 run by the Bearcats at the start of the second half gave Willamette a 43-41 edge. Hayden Russell (So., G, Woodland, Ca/Da Vinci HS) sank a 3-pointer with 15:14 left to complete the run. The Cavaliers moved ahead 45-43, but WU regained the lead on a 3-pointer from Troplent with 13:56 to go.

Luedtke increased the lead to 48-45 with a layup just 19 second later. The Bearcats maintained the lead for the next five minutes.

The Cavaliers used a 10-0 run to gain a 59-53 advantage. Concordia started the run with a basket by Middleton and a free throw by Guttierez, and then claimed the lead on a layup by Middleton with 8:32 remaining. CU then hit 3 of 6 free throws before Nuaimi finished the run on a layup at the 6:30 mark.

WU cut the deficit to 59-55 when McCullough hit a jumper with 6:00 left, but the Cavaliers gradually pulled away.

Concordia shot 48.1% for the game (26 of 54), but made just 3 of 12 three throws (25.0%). The Cavaliers gained a huge edge at the free throw line, where they made 21 of 42 shots, compared to Willamette's 6 for 10. The Bearcats hit 26 of 69 free throws (37.7%), including 8 of 25 on 3-pointers (32.0%). CU earned a 46-39 rebounding margin.

The Bearcats will be off until they compete in the D3hoops.com Classic on Monday, Dec. 29 and Tuesday, Dec. 30 in Las Vegas, Nev. Willamette will play Wisconsin Lutheran College on Dec. 29 at 4 p.m. (PST). The Bearcats will face Colorado College on Dec. 30 at 4 p.m. (PST).