CU's Alex Tiefenthaler recorded a game-high 22 points against the Lions.
Concordia Stays Unbeaten with Comeback Win vs. Point Loma
SAN DIEGO—Trailing by double digits in both halves, Concordia rallied to stun Point Loma Nazarene University 68-66 in non-conference men’s basketball action at the Golden Gym on Friday night.
With the result, CU improved to 3-0 on the young season while PLNU dropped to 1-1.
After holding a 13-12 lead in the first, Point Loma went on an 11-0 run to double-up the Cavaliers 24-12. CU would respond with a run of their own, getting three-point baskets from Alex Tiefenthaler and Sergio Rosario to cut the score to 35-33 with less than three minutes remaining in the half.
The Lions however would stake the last seven points of the half, four of which came from Jake Johnston, to give the home side a 42-33 advantage at the break.
PLNU would create a double-digit lead on a Paul Hostrerich jumper early in the second but the Cavs would bounce back, slowly chipping away at the gap to eventually square the game at 56-56 on a Dustin Hiebert three with 8:20 left.
The two squads would tie the match on three more occasions before Concordia would take its first lead of second half by route of a pair of free throw makes by Tiefenthaler with 2:47 showing on the clock.
The Lions immediately responded with a Rhett Beal layup followed by a foul shot make by James Hancock to give Pt. Loma a one-point advantage. Countering for CU, Gage Aker converted a fouled layup and the ensuing free throw to regain the lead for the Cavs with 1:50 to play. The margin would prove safe as the Lions would cut the score to 67-66 with four second remaining, but a free throw make Jourdan Sweeney would stand as the game’s final score as a last-second bucket to tie from PLNU’s Nate Van Weelden turned out to be off target.
Tiefenthaler led the court with 22 points and posted a team-high seven rebounds. Rosario and Hiebert each had nine points while Sweeney added eight. Greg Murray led the Lions with 15, followed by 14 from Beal who also collected a game-high 12 rebounds.
Concordia continues its season on Saturday when it takes on San Diego Christian College at 7:30 p.m. in San Diego.