BELMONT, Calif. — Concordia Men's Basketball clinched a spot in the PacWest tournament for the first time in program history on Thursday night with its second conference win over Notre Dame de Namur University. The Eagles join Dixie State, Point Loma, Azusa Pacific, and Cal Baptist in the postseason tournament scheduled for March 1-3rd.
Feb. 7, 2018: Concordia Basketball went head to head with Notre Dame de Namur for the first time in the 2017-18 season. Tad Dufelmeier and JT Roach put up 17 points and three assists each for the Eagles. Coming out with an overwhelming win, the Eagles defeated NDNU 65-46.
Tonight-Eagles brought the heat early: The senior tag team of Dufelmeier and Roach struck in the fifth minute after a steal by Dufelmeier. Roach grabbed a rebound and tipped the ball in at the window for his first points of the contest. Concordia started the game with an early six point lead after six minutes. Mike Mellinger led the offense in the first half posting nine points. After finding a rhythm towards the end of the first half, the Eagles headed to halftime leading NDNU by 12 points, 32-20. 
Second half clinch: Cameron English started the second half with a dunk assisted by Dufelmeier and the Eagles hit the ground running. Four minutes into the final period, Geoff Gerlach grabbed a defensive rebound that turned into another dunk for English, also assisted by Dufelmeier. Roach did what he does best and hit a few three pointers and jumpers for the Eagles rounding out at 12 points in the second half. Concordia took its largest lead of the game (+21) with three minutes remaining after a good free throw by Michael Vos-Otin. After a couple NDNU three pointers, Roach hit a jumper to finish the contest with 19 point Eagles lead, 70-51.
Roach led Concordia with 18 point and six rebounds on the night. Vos-Otin tossed seven assists. As a team, the Eagles shot 51.7% from the field and forced 18 Argonaut turnovers.
Up Next: Eagles Men's Basketball (19-9, 12-7 PWC) finishes the regular season with a PacWest matchup against the Academy of Art, the teams first of the season. Academy of Art is 11-14, 10-9 in PacWest play. Tip off is scheduled for Saturday Feb. 24 at 3:30 p.m. in Belmont, Calif.
