DENVER, Colo. – Concordia led 38-35 at halftime, but the Cavaliers were outscored by nine in the second half to fall to Metro State 82-76 in a men’s non-conference game Saturday night at Aureria Event Center.

 

The loss drops Concordia’s record to 3-3, while Metro State improves to 2-0.

 

Concordia led by as many as eight points in the first half on the strength of six three-pointers on 11 attempts. But Metro State, ranked No. 15 in the NCAA Division II National Poll, shot 54.8 percent (17-of-31) in the second period to earn the comeback victory.

 

The Roadrunners’ A.J. Flourney made a three-pointer to start the second half, tying the game at 38 apiece. Flourney’s shot sparked a 12-0 Metro State run to open the period, giving the Roadrunners a 47-38 lead four minutes into the half.

 

Metro State eventually extended its advantage into double-figures, leading by as many as 14 at three points, including a 70-56 lead with just over four minutes remaining in the contest.

 

Concordia worked the lead down to nine on a Drew Preuninger three-pointer with 30 seconds remaining. A Kevan West free throw and Gage Aker layup later, CU was within six points in the final 19 seconds. The teams exchanged field goals in the final seconds to reach the final score of 82-76.

 

Aker (Portland, Ore./Wilson H.S.) led the Cavaliers with 22 points, highlighted by 11-of-13 shooting at the free throw line. Dustin Hiebert (Dallas, Ore./Dallas H.S.) tallied 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, and West (Vancouver, Wash./Prairie H.S.) added 14 points and a team-high nine rebounds.

 

Five Roadrunners reached double-figures in the scoring column, led by Reggie Evans’ 20 points.

 

Concordia returns to action Nov. 23 when the Cavaliers host Pacific Lutheran University in a game scheduled for 7:30 p.m.