concordia university (12-4, 6-2 nsic) couldn't hold a 46-41 second half lead in a 70-64 loss to sw minnesota state (11-6, 7-1 nsic) on friday evening at the gangelhoff center in a pivotal northern sun matchup.

concordia led by five in the first half, 26-21 but the mustangs rallied to take a 31-28 halftime lead.

the bears were still in striking distance despite shooting just 35.5% (11-31) in the opening 20 minutes, including 11.1% (1-9) from three while smsu stroked five three's in seven attempts (71.4%) and shot slightly better at 40.7% (11-27) to hold the three point lead.

concordia's shot came back in the second half as they reclaimed the lead with a 14-4 run to go up 44-39. They continued to hold the slight lead at 46-41 but smsu scored seven unanswered points to regain the lead.

the mustangs would never surrender the lead the rest of the way as the bears forced a pair of ties but cold shooting down the stretch combined with smsu's free throw execution buried concordia.

the bears shot 51.7% (15-29) in the second half, including 44.4% (4-9) from behind the arc while sw minnesota state shot 55.0% (11-20) from the field but made just two second half three's.

the difference came at the foul line, where the mustangs outscored the bears 15-2 in the second half on free throws alone. For the game, smsu finished 73.1% (19-26) at the line compared to concordia's 53.8% (7-13).

senior guard kyle marxhausen led concordia with 14 points, including 10 points down the stretch as the bears made a solid attempt at a late comeback.

senior center drew shepp finished a perfect 5-5 from the field and had 10 points and seven rebounds in 23 minutes while freshman forward craig heiman added 10 points, six rebounds, two steals and a block off the bench.

the mustangs had five players score in double-figures and seven of the eight players that played scored at least eight points. Smsu was led by chad orum's 13 points and five rebounds while jeremy vanklompenburg had 10 points and a team-high six rebounds while dishing three assists and adding a pair of blocks.

concordia, who has now lost two of three games, will look to rebound when they host wayne state tomorrow evening at 8 p.m.

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