The golden bears used 13 blocked shots and stifled wayne state to just five second half field goals on 17.2% (5-29) shooting as concordia university pulled out a 77-66 victory on saturday night at the gangelhoff center. The golden bears improve to 7-2 in the nsic (13-4 overall) while wayne state falls to 5-4 in league play (10-8 overall).

senior forward marlon walker couldn't be stopped in the first half, as he helped concordia rebound from an early 18 point deficit. The bears, trailing 29-11 at the 9:03 mark, got 13 points from walker in the remainder of the half.

walker finished the half with 17 points before ending up with a career-high 21 points for the game. He also had eight rebounds and was 10-14 from the field.

walker's play helped the bears finish the half strong, closing to within a four point gap after outscoring wsc 29-15 in the final nine minutes to go into halftime trailing 44-40.

in the second half, concordia continued to dominate the game finally tying the score for the first time at 48 just over three minutes into the half. They would take their first lead just two minutes later at 52-50 and didn't look back as they were able to close out wayne state.

the wildcats started hot, hitting seven first half three's and shooting 56.3% (17-30) from the field. After the bears stifled them in the second half, wayne state ended up just 37.3% (22-59) from the field and didn't convert a second half three-point field goal in 10 attempts.

the bears shot 44.6% (29-65) from the field but struggled from three-point range (23.5%, 4-17) and the free throw line (53.6%, 15-28). Concordia also did not drain any second half three's in five tries.

two other golden bears reached double-figures, both seniors as center drew shepp had 16 points, six rebounds and two blocks while guard kyle marxhausen had 15 points and seven rebounds.

junior guard jason birr continued to make a name for himself as one of the best defenders in the northern sun as he rejected the wildcats four times while also posting three points, five rebounds and four assists in 21 minutes off the bench.

senior point guard joey peel matched birr's four assists to lead the bears. Peel also had four steals and four points in 22 minutes.

the rest of the squad all had their contributions in another team victory with all 11 players that played scoring and grabbing a rebound in the effort. Seven players registered blocks with senior guard cortez forte and junior center chuol chany each adding two.

the win for concordia propels them back into a tie for second in the northern sun as sw minnesota state fell at msu moorhead, 58-56. The mustangs went the first 9:30 of the second half without scoring in their loss.

concordia returns to action next saturday, january 27 when they face msu moorhead at 8:00 in nsic action.

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