Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content
75
Concordia (Mich.) CUAA 2-2
78
Winner Spring Arbor (Mich.) SAU 3-1
Concordia (Mich.) CUAA
2-2
75
Final
78
Spring Arbor (Mich.) SAU
3-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Concordia (Mich.) CUAA 31 44 75
Spring Arbor (Mich.) SAU 34 44 78

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men's Basketball wins home opener over Concordia

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The No. 1 ranked Spring Arbor University men's basketball team defeated Concordia University 78-75 in its home opener on Tuesday night inside a raucous McDonald Athletic Center.

The Cougars overcame an eight-point second half deficit and held off the upset-minded Cardinals to improve to 3-1 on the young season.

Junior Brandon Durnell led the way for SAU with a game-high 27 points, including 17 in the second half, and 13 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.

 
 

THE BASICS

FINAL SCORE: No. 1 Spring Arbor 78, Concordia 75

LOCATION: McDonald Athletic Center | Spring Arbor, Mich.

RECORDS: Spring Arbor 3-1, Concordia 2-2

 
 

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Spring Arbor led for almost the entire first half. The Cougars grabbed their largest lead of the period at seven, 15-8, after back-to-back three-pointers by Paul Marandet and Connor Cottingham.
  • Concordia trimmed the deficit to one late in the half, but a bucket from Denver Cade in the closing seconds gave SAU a 34-31 advantage heading into the locker room.
  • The Cougars opened the second half on fire making their first three attempts from the field to balloon the lead to nine, 40-31.
  • The home team would suffer a cold spell, however, being held to just two points over the next six minutes while Concordia used a 19-2 run to take a 50-42 lead with 12:21 remaining.
  • Still trailing by eight, 56-48, with under 10 minutes to play, the Cougars went on a run of their own, powered by Luke Barber and Payton DeWildt. Barber knocked down a triple to get things started and DeWildt scored six of the next eight SAU points to retake the lead, 59-58.
  • The score remained close in the final minute, but Cade and Durnell made clutch free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

 
 

FOR THE COUGARS

  • Durnell was 10-for-17 from the field and 6-for-7 at the free throw line on his way to 27 points. His 13 rebounds also matched his career-high.
  • DeWildt posted a season-high 15 points with four rebounds and two steals while Marandet had 12 points, seven assists and five boards.
  • Spring Arbor shot 54 percent (30-for-56) on the night, but was held to 5-for-19 from three-point range.
  • The Cougars dominated the glass with a 42-26 rebound advantage, and outscored the Cardinals in the paint 46-30.

 
 

FOR THE CARDINALS

  • Concordia was led by Greg Alexander and Jerald Booker, who scored 20 points apiece.
  • The Cardinals hit 44 percent (28-for-64) of their shot attempts, including a 12-for-29 mark from long range.

 
 

UP NEXT

Spring Arbor travels to Livonia, Michigan for a Top-10 showdown with the No. 9 ranked Madonna University Crusaders (2-2) on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.

 
 

STAY CONNECTED: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube
DOWNLOAD OUR APPS: iOS (iPhone/iPad) | Android

Print Friendly Version