First-Half Defense Keys Concordia Victory
PORTLAND, Ore. –Holding Willamette to 13 points and 18 percent shooting from the field in the first half, Concordia jumped out to a 30-point lead and never looked back in a 69-55 non-conference home win at the Cavalier Gymnasium.
With the result, Concordia evened its record to 4-4 while Willamette dropped to 2-5 on the season.
Managing only five field goals in the first half, the Bearcats dug themselves into a huge hole while the Cavs shot 60 percent from the floor in the first half for a 43-13 lead.
“This was one of the better defensive efforts we have had in the past few seasons,” Concordia head coach Brad Barbarick said.
In a reversal of the opening stanza, Willamette found its touch with 65 percent shooting in the second half to cut a chunk out of the Cavalier lead to close to within 13 with just under eight minutes remaining.
“Overall, they are a good shooting team and we knew they would fight their way back,” Barbarick said. “It’s disappointing to lose a 30-point lead, but we are still pleased that we sustained our intensity.”
Desmond Merey (Spanaway, Wash./Bethel H.S.) led four Cavaliers in double figures with 17 points, one upping teammate Cody Aker’s (Portland, Ore./Wilson H.S.) 16-point tally. With a game-high 10 rebounds, Aker completed his first ‘double-double’ of the season.
Kyler McClary paced the Bearcats with a dozen points after hitting 5-of-11 attempts.
Concordia will next take the floor when they host Walla Walla College on Sunday, Dec. 16. Opening top is set for 7:30 on the campus of Concordia.
“We are still trying to find out our identity and one of the things I told them is that this is team with a lot of character and integrity,” Barbarick said. “We have had some struggles offensively, but tonight, especially in the first half, we demonstrated that we can be a very good off team.”