ST. PAUL, Minn. – In the first MIAC game of the season for both teams, the Macalester College men’s basketball team fell to Concordia College, 81-70 Tuesday evening in the Leonard Center. The Scots, who had won their past three games, are now 3-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play. The Cobbers remain unbeaten this season at 5-0, 1-0 MIAC.
After Macalester started the game on a 6-2 run, Concordia responded with 12 consecutive points to take an early 14-6 lead. The Scots came within five twice midway through the first half, only to have the Cobbers push the lead up to as many as 14 before taking a 42-30 advantage at the half. Concordia shot 54.8 percent from the field in the first half compared to 38.7 percent for Macalester, including 1-of-9 shooting from three-point range.
In the second half, the Cobbers continued to maintain the upper hand, growing the lead to 58-40 with 13:26 to play. Back-to-back threes by sophomore forward Ryan Brush (Bellevue, Wash./Bellevue) and first year guard Kaden Holdbrook (Palo Alto, Calif./Gunn) ignited a 16-0 run by the Scots that made it a two-point game, 58-56 with 9:48 remaining. Concordia answered with seven straight points before a basket by Holdbrook and a three from junior guard Caleb Williams (Wild Rose, Wis./Wild Rose) brought Macalester to within four, 65-61 at the 6:10 mark.
After the Cobbers again responded to push the lead back to nine, 70-61, four points from Holdbrook and a pair of free throws by junior guard Coby Gold (Denver, Colo./Kent Denver) made it a three-point game, 70-67 with 2:17 remaining. With the game on the line, the Scots were called for a foul and a technical foul, giving Concordia two free throws and a 1-and-1 situation. Matt Johnson made all four free throws to put the Cobbers ahead, 74-67 with 2:02 left. A three from sophomore guard Eric Wentz (Minot, N.D./Minot) cut the deficit to six, but that’s as close as the Scots would get as Concordia wrapped up the win, 81-70 by scoring the final five points of the game.
Macalester was 7-of-19 from beyond the arc and shot 39.4 percent overall in the second half. But the Cobbers shot 61.9 percent from the field after halftime and outscored the Scots, 34-22 in the paint for the game. Williams led all players with 21 points. Gold registered 13 points, five rebounds, four assists and a career-high five steals, while Holdbrook added 12 points and three assists. Wentz and Brush each scored nine points, with Wentz grabbing a team-high seven rebounds. Johnson finished with 19 points to lead Concordia.
Macalester hosts St. Olaf in another MIAC battle on Wednesday, Nov. 29. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in the Leonard Center.