Concordia University (2-0) shot 61.2 percent from the field (30-49) in their home opener as they cruised past Bethany Lutheran College (1-1) on Sunday evening at the Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul, Minn.

Junior guard Kyle Marxhausen's 17 first-half points helped the Golden Bears sprint out to a 52-28 halftime lead. Three players reached double-figures after the first 20 minutes, as seniors Ty Thomas and Kenneth Pointer had 11 and 10, respectively, to join Marxhausen. The Bears shot 67.9 percent in the first half while hitting 5-7 threes (71.4%) and 9-11 free throws (81.4%)

The Bears and Vikings played a closer second half, as Concordia edged BLC 32-30 in the final 20 minutes, but the game wasn't closer than 16 points in the second half as Concordia coasted to victory.

Thomas and Marxhausen each finished with 19 points, while Pointer had 15. Junior point guard Joey Peel added eight points, five assists, and four steals. Thomas also had a game-high eight rebounds and shot 7-13 from the field and 2-4 from long range. Marxhausen shot 6-8 from the field, 3-5 from three point territory, and 4-4 at the stripe while collecting four rebounds and dishing three assists.

Senior center Aaron Ackerson only scored two points, but he had six rebounds, grabbing four of them on the offensive end, to go with a pair of blocks.

Concordia returns to action next Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25-26 when they play host to the Concordia Thanksgiving Classic. On Friday, the Bears battle the Augustana (S.D.) Vikings before taking on Northern Michigan on Saturday. Both contests tip-off at 8 p.m.