Concordia-Moorhead

This was a big bounce back game for us. After a tough loss to Carleton it was important for us to get this win for our own mental state as well as a win in the standings. Concordia had really been struggling as of late and was in second to last place in the standings for the MIAC. They really concerned us because they were capable of beating just about anyone in the conference because of their talent level. They have experienced players at just about every position and they have shooters that haven't shot the ball well in a while.

Just as we suspected before the game, they got hot and started off with a bang and a flurry of 3's. We just looked flat and our guys looked surprised that they were actually making shots. It seemed like everything they threw up went in. It didn't help that we couldn't get things going on the offensive end either. They ended up shooting 48% from the floor and 5-8 from three. Their shooting seemed a lot better from our perspective. It didn't help that were 12-32 from the floor to go along with 5-13 from free throw line. Ray Brown was really getting to the rim but was struggling big time from the line shooting 4-10 in the first half. We were down 41-34 at the break.

After trading baskets for a while, we finally got even around the 13 minute mark. We went on a little run and got up as many as seven. It seemed like we had them right were we wanted them. I was wrong. They battled back and went up by five just as quickly. Then we battled back and actually played, what I thought, our best offensive basketball of the season. We were moving the ball, penetrating, and getting it inside. Carl Hipp scored seven points in the last two minutes and we held on for a three point victory with four made free throws from Ray Brown and Carl Hipp.

Our fantastic (I'm oozing sarcasm right now) held to them to 50% shooting and a stellar 11-17 from three. Certainly not the way we wanted to win but we'll take it, especially at this point in the season.

Ray led us again with 25 on 6-12 shooting, 4-7 from 3, and 9-16 from line. He also led us in rebounds with 10. Carl also had a solid night offensively with 22 on 8-12 shooting from the floor and 6-8 from the line. Freshmen (not first years, as every else calls them) Jordan Schmidt and Christian Taber both hit two 3's and finished with 14 and 10 points respectively.

With the win, we are now 13-7 and 9-6 in the MIAC. That win clinched the first winning season in 16 years at Hamline. We still aren't done though. We need to keep pushing to get a home game for the league playoffs. Home vs. Bethel tonight in another tough MIAC game.