Eagles edge out APU in outstanding all-around team performance
Emily Duran
Box Score
The Concordia Men's Basketball team took two wins away from the Thanksgiving Classic last week, and brought the streak back to CU Arena.
The Eagles executed defensive pressure and a spread of offense to claim an 85-68 win over the APU Cougars in the opening PacWest matchup.
From tip off, the Eagles attacked the Cougars with relentless defense from all five players on the court. To the Eagles advantage, their shooting was on the same level.
Concordia jumped to a 6-0 lead seeing points from three different players –
Justin Davis,
Tad Dufelmeier and
Case Bruton. After giving up two points, Â
Brian Chambers joined on the scoring with a  three pointer to give Concordia an 11-2 lead.
Mike Mellinger was next, scoring three of his own to start of his successful showing.
Josh Hauser heckled the Cougars throughout the game with hard fought defense, and his three point shot and assist to Chambers gave Concordia a 20-9 lead with 13:00 to play.
Dufelmeier delivered for the Eagles all night, driving for layups while applying steady pressure defensively.
Although the Cougars began to score points, the Eagles never stopped. Concordia closed out the half with a 23 point lead and heaps of momentum.
They shot 71 percent from the field and posted an impressive 64.3 percent from the three-point range, making 9-14. They showed their discipline from the line as well, hitting 4-5 shots.
The Eagles had two players in the double digits, and saw points from seven different players.
The Cougars crept into the game in the second half, taking advantage of the Eagles slower start. Concordia displayed confidence, waiting to find its groove six minutes in.
Cameron English turned the momentum back with a layup and Mellinger made another three to keep it alive.
Dufelmeier dug up another steal and fed the ball to Chambers for a dunk and 20 point lead. The APU improvements in the second half were apparent, but the Eagles edged them out for a solid win.
Davis led the team with 22 points and
Case Bruton banked 20 of his own. Bruton was 3-3 from behind the three point line and tallied four rebounds two steals and two assists.
J. Hauser was all over the court for the Eagles with seven points with four assists and four steals.
The Eagles aim to get their second PacWest win against the Dixie State Trailblazers Saturday. Tip of is set for 6:30 p.m. in St. George, Utah.
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