IRVINE, Calif. – The Concordia Golden Eagles ended the calendar year with a breakthrough 70-64 win over the visiting Holy Names Hawks in a rare Monday matinee.
Concordia University Irvine locked down its second home win in PacWest play and has now beaten both HNU and also Academy of Art when the Urban Knights were ranked No. 21 in the nation.
An early 13-0 run midway through the first half helped CUI get on track after Holy Names enjoyed an early 19-9 lead.
Alpha Okoli,
Bryce Fitzgerald and
Cameron Fini each hit a trey to help erase that deficit. A dime from
Jonah Tolmaire to Fitzgerald for a layup pushed the Golden Eagles in front for the first time by a score of 22-21.
The entire Concordia team was much more efficient on Monday in the quality of their shot selection and their execution than in their past few conference games. Both the eye test and the box score confirmed that in many ways as CUI outrebounded Holy Names 34-26 and also had 15 assists to only 10 helpers for the Hawks.
Connor Gleason provided a spark off the bench by posting career-highs with seven points and three rebounds in 18 minutes of action. CUI went with a smaller lineup for a key stretch in the second half that produced multiple defensive stops with
Freddie Dybala, Okoli, Gleason, Tolmaire and
Matthew Brookins on the floor.
Lance Coleman II subbed back in for Brookins and knocked down a couple of big threes to help fend off the Hawks as the game was tight for the last 10 minutes of the contest.
Coleman II finished the game as one of four Golden Eagles in double figures with 15 points. He was joined by freshman
Jackson Tucker (13 points), Dybala (11 points) and Okoli (10 points).
The Golden Eagles also drove to the basket with confidence to either finish at the rim, kick it out for a better shot or draw fouls. CUI shot 90 percent from the free throw line (9-for-10) with the trio of Dybala, Okoli and Coleman II taking care of business when given the chance.
The Golden Eagles will enjoy the holiday break and then return to action in Hawaii as they head to the islands for a three-game road trip. CUI visits Hawaii Pacific first on Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 8:30 p.m. PT (6:30 local HT) before playing Chaminade and Hawaii Hilo.
CUI's next home contest is part of a doubleheader against Point Loma on Saturday, Jan. 14 with the men playing at 7:30 p.m. following the women's game at 5:00 p.m.
CLICK HERE for the full CUI men's basketball schedule
