Concordia Overpowers Mount Marty with Second-Half Surge, 88-74
YANKTON, S.D. – Despite a strong first half from Mount Marty, Concordia (NE) dominated the second half to claim an 88-74 road victory in GPAC action.
Mount Marty (10-17, 7-14 GPAC) took a 47-43 lead at halftime, shooting efficiently and keeping pace with Concordia (23-5, 16-4 GPAC). However, the Bulldogs responded with a dominant 45-27 second-half performance, fueled by their 70.2% shooting from the field and 68.4% from three-point range.
Key Performers for Concordia:
- Bradley Bennett led the scoring with 17 points, hitting 5-of-8 three-pointers.
- Zac Kulus was perfect from the field, scoring 16 points on 6-of-6 shooting, including 4-of-4 from deep.
- Jaxon Stueve added 15 points, shooting an efficient 6-of-8.
- Tristan Smith played a well-rounded game with 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists, nearly securing a triple-double.
- Brooks Kissinger contributed 15 points and 5 rebounds, providing key buckets in the second half.
Mount Marty's Standouts:
- Sutton Arend led the Lancers with 17 points and 10 rebounds, recording a double-double.
- Tash Lunday added 15 points, going 4-of-5 from the free-throw line.
- Damon Opdahl chipped in 14 points, 4-of-8 from three, and a game-high 5 steals.
- Jake Jensen provided solid minutes off the bench with 11 points and 4 rebounds.
Game Breakdown:
- Hot Shooting from Concordia: The Bulldogs shot an incredible 70.2% from the field and 68.4% from three, proving too efficient for Mount Marty to handle.
- Second-Half Dominance: Mount Marty held a four-point lead at halftime, but Concordia outscored the Lancers 45-27 in the second half.
- Bench Impact: Concordia's reserves, led by Zac Kulus' 16 points, contributed 25 points, while Mount Marty's bench managed 20.
- Turnovers & Defense: Both teams had 8 steals, but Concordia capitalized better, forcing Mount Marty into 10 turnovers and scoring in transition.
Up Next:
Mount Marty looks to bounce back in their next matchup as they will play in the GPAC Tournament.
