SEWARD, NEB. – A 23-9 run over the final 10 and a half minutes of the first half proved the difference Wednesday, Jan. 22.
With a red-hot shooting Concordia University squad getting their home crowd at the Walz Human Performance Center into a frenzy early on, the top-ranked team in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division II had to weather the storm. Trailing by as many as 10 early on, head coach Jim Sykes team dug in and waited for its chance. It arrived with Mside down 25-16, as senior center Tyler Borchers (SR/Le Mars, IA ) (LeMars, Iowa) and freshman guard Will Pottebaum (FR/LeMars, IA) (LeMars, Iowa) converted four straight free throws to open the critical first stanza span. When the dust settled at halftime, Morningside led 39-34, and the visiting Mustangs continued to power through in the second half, tallying 16 of the first 21 points en route to an 85-72 Great Plains Athletic Conference win.
Borchers, who ended the night with a workmanlike 23-point, 11-rebound double-double, added another historical note to an already glowing resume. His fourth field goal of the contest passed former standout Chris Kuhlmanns career field goal mark of 690, as he wound up at 696 at games end. The two-time NAIA D2 All-American was one of five Maroon players in double digits. Senior guard Alex Borchers (SR/South Sioux City, NE ) (South Sioux City, Neb.) wound up with 14; junior center Tyler Brown (Gretna, Neb.) had another big bench performance with 12 points and six rebounds; junior guard Zach Imig (JR/Gretna, NE ) (Gretna, Neb.) compiled 10 points and six assists; and freshman guard Will Pottebaum (LeMars, Iowa) resumed an impressive first collegiate campaign just a rebound off a double-double (10 points, nine boards, two steals, and a blocked shot).
The Mustangs, winners of 44 of their last 50 regular-season conference games, take their 21-0 overall and 13-0 loop record back home to Allee Gymnasium and the Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center Saturday, Jan. 25. Game time against Mount Marty College is 4 p.m.
SEWARD, NEB. – An icy six of 25 evening from outside the arc, coupled with 28 turnovers, forecast as dreary of an evening inside Concordia Universitys Walz Human Performance Center as it was outside Wednesday, Jan. 22.
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division II No. 7-ranked Morningside College Mustangs trailed 15-6 out of the gate against the No. 3-ranked NAIA D2 Bulldogs and couldnt overcome the deficit. Head coach Jamie Sales squad put together a strong run late in the half to close within four (33-29), but CU responded by tallying four of the last six points in the opening half and 11 of the first 13 in the second half en route to an 85-61 Great Plains Athletic Conference victory.
Msides loss, snapping a six-game win streak, dropped them to 17-5 overall and 11-3 in the conference. Senior forward/center Sydney Hupp (SR/ONeill, NE) (ONeill, Neb.) guided the offense, registering 23 points to reach 1,412 for her career and move her into No. 12 on the programs list as the 13th individual to post 1,400-or-more. Hupp was only two rebounds shy of a double-double and also blocked a home team shot attempt. Sophomore forward Taylor Rodenburgh (SO/Hawarden, IA) (Hawarden, Iowa) did gain a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds to complement a strong night that included four assists, two steals, and a blocked shot. Fellow sophomore forward Sophia Peppers (SO/Exira, IA) (Exira, Iowa) wound up with the final double-digit night, scoring 10 points to go with five rebounds.
The Mustangs return home to Allee Gymnasium and the Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center Saturday, Jan. 25. Mount Marty College visits Siouxland for a 2 p.m. tip-off which is part of the Champions Day celebration.
