IRVINE, CALIF. — The Concordia Men's Basketball team (9-3, 3-1 PWC) hosted its PacWest home opener on Saturday night against former NAIA opponent Biola University (5-5, 0-3 PWC). Biola, in its first year in the PacWest, was picked ninth in the PacWest preseason poll. The Concordia Eagles took the contest 75-70.
Tad Dufelmeier led Concordia with 26 total points, eight assists, eight rebounds, and went 11-13 in field goals on the night. Cameron English had 11 total points and three rebounds. Tyler Lacour posted 10 points for Concordia.
"My teammates helped me out a lot tonight, I could not have gotten those eight assists without my teammates knocking down shots," Dufelmeier said.
The green and gold took an early lead with back to back layups by JT Roach and Geoff Gerlach. Brian Chambers hit the first of five Concordia three pointers on the night.
With six minutes gone, Chambers grabbed a defensive rebound and served a pass to English for a dunk. Concordia led 15-10.
Dufelmeier hit a three pointer with 12 minutes left, assisted by Mike Mellinger.
Adam Turner had huge block at the turn of the first half that brought him to the other side of the court for a dunk, assisted by Dufelmeier. The dunk brought the Concordia lead to 10 points, 26-16.
Lacour hit back to back three pointers within 40 seconds of each other. Both assisted by Dufelmeier.
A three pointer and a layup by Dufelmeier rounded out the scoring for the green and gold. At halftime, the Concordia Eagles led the Biola Eagles 48-31.
The second half started slow offensively for both sides. Dufelmeier scored three layups and put up the only Concordia points for the first eight minutes of the second half. Teammates Gerlach and English followed with a layup each bringing the score to 58-44.
With four minutes remaining, Dufelmeier drove toward the basket, faked a jump shot, and passed to Gerlach for a layup.
A jumper and two free throws by Dufelmeier rounded out the scoring for Concordia, 75-70.
"It is always nice to get wins in conference and it is really important that we continue to win games at home," Head Coach Ken Ammann said. "Dufelmeier led the way for us tonight, he did so many things well."
UP NEXT
The Eagles take on Dixie State in another PacWest home contest in Irvine, Calif. Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 on December 18th.
