Courtesy of GoCobbers.com, Release: December 19, 2009
Team |
1st Half |
2nd Half |
Final |
 |
24 |
25 |
49 |
 |
30 |
48 |
78 |
Gameday Menu:
Gameday Program: Gameday Program (pdf)
Opponent's Website: Presentation Men's Basketball
MIAC Website: MIAC Men's Basketball
MOORHEAD, Minn. (12/19/09)-- Concordia used a 14-4 run at the start of the second period to turn a six-point halftime lead into a 16-point advantage on their way to a decisive 78-49 win over Presentation on Saturday. The Cobbers remain unbeaten at home in 2009 and move to 4-0 at home and have not lost in Memorial Auditorium for eight consecutive games in a streak that dates back to last season.
Concordia also wins its third straight game and moves to 6-3 overall. The Saints fall for the third straight time and drop to 3-5 in their first eight games of the year.
Darrin Olmscheid led the charge for the Cobbers as he scored 19 of his game-high 23 points in the second half. Olmscheid scored 11 of the team's 14 points in their game-changing 14-4 run to start the final 20 minutes of play. He went on to score 16 of his 19 second-half points in a span of eight minutes to begin the second half.
The other game changing key for the Cobbers was their defense on the Presentation interior players. After allowing center Richie Ward to score nine points in the first half and forward Casey Erickson to put up seven, Concordia held the tandem to a total of five points in the final period. Ward, The UMAC Player of the Week last week, was held to just three total shots in the final 20 minutes of play and finished with 12 points, his second lowest point total of the season.
The game was close for the first half of play in the opening period. Both teams were cold from the floor and combined for only 22 points in the first 10 minutes of the game. With the score tied at 11-11, Concordia then went on a 12-3 run over the next four minutes. The Cobbers grabbed a nine-point lead at 23-14 lead with 6:50 remaining in the period and never looked back. CC would not allow Presentation within eight points in the second half and cruised to their sixth win of the year.
Besides the 22 from Olmscheid, junior guard Karl Olson went 5-for-8 from the floor and finished with 15 points. Olson was also 3-for-3 from the free throw line and has now made 18 straight free throws in a streak that dates back to the game against Carleton on Dec. 7. Olmscheid and Olson were the only Cobber players in double figures for the game.
John Fraase had nine points to go along with a game-high 12 rebounds. Eric Lien was 2-for-5 from 2-point range and finished with eight points while freshman Jason Huus came off the bench to score four points in one minute of play and earn his first collegiate points.
Eric May led Presentation in scoring with 14 points. He had 13 points in the second and finished the game 5-for-10 from the floor. After scoring seven points in the first half, Erickson was held to two points in the final 20 minutes. He also added a team-high seven rebounds.
Concordia outrebounded the Saints 47-23 for the game. The superior inside play by the Cobbers also led to a 28-18 advantage in points in the paint. CC shot 53.7% (29-for-54) from the floor and 38.9% (7-for-18) from 3-point range. The Cobbers shot just 52.0% (13-for-25) from the free throw line which marks the second time in the past four games that CC has shot under 55.0% from the foul line.
The Cobbers will now have a two-week break for the Christmas holiday. Concordia returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 2 when they play at Bethel at 6 p.m.
