Concordia Upended in OT in Lutheran Invitational Title Game
PORTLAND, Ore.—Scott McDaniels scored a game-high 23 points for Pacific Lutheran but it was the final two that mattered the most as a layup with eight seconds left provided the winning bucket against Concordia University in the championship match of the Lutheran Invitational Tournament held at Concordia-Portland.
McDaniels, named the tournament MVP, shot 10-of-15 from the field and added a game-high 10 rebounds to lift the Lutes to the 79-77 victory.
Trailing by five with 33 seconds left in regulation, Concordia’s Cody Aker hit a quick jumper followed by a long three that banked off the glass with two seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.
Aker finished with 16 points, nine of which came after the first period, to fill the void left by an injured Desmond Meray. An all-tournament team selection, Meray scored 16 points in the first period, including 3-of-7 from three-point range to give the Cavaliers a 37-33 advantage going into the half.
Up by two following the McDaniels’ go-ahead, Aker launched a deep last-second three but could not duplicate the heroics from moments earlier.
In the consolation match, a late charge by Concordia-Nebraska enabled the Bulldogs to defeat Augsburg 82-75. Despite 32 points off an incredible 16-of-17 shooting night from Femi Solaja, Augsburg could not answer the three-headed attack of Benjamin Buhr, Scott Hannon and Casey Schroeder.
With Buhr leading the way with 26 points, including 6-of-10 from behind the arc, the trio accounted for 52 of the Bulldogs 82 points. Hannon’s night was punctuated from the free throw line where he nailed a perfect 10-of-10 chances. The Auggies’ Solaja added a dozen rebounds for a game high.
All-Tournament Team
Femi Solaja, Augsburg
Benjamin Buhr, Concordia-Nebraska
Desmond Meray, Concordia-Portland
Josh Dressler, Pacific Lutheran
*Scott McDaniels, Pacific Lutheran
*Tournament MVP