ST. PAUL, Minn. - Concordia-St. Paul men's basketball (1-0) started the 2013-14 season with a 73-62 victory, leading the entire way over Mayville State (2-0) on Monday night at Gangelhoff Center.
Mayville State's season record remains unbeaten as the game was an exhibition for the NAIA squad.
Concordia had five players score in double-figures led by junior
Cole Olstad with 17 points. He was efficient, making 5-of-7 from the field and 6-of-7 at the foul line while also collecting five rebounds.
Despite leading the entire way, the game remained within reach for much of the night. Concordia started strong with an 11-2 lead behind seven early points from junior
Terez VanPelt in the first six-plus minutes.
The first half lead would fluctuate between five and 12 points as a VanPelt three-pointer with just under a minute to play in the half gave Concordia its largest lead of the half. The margin would remain at 12 at the break, 36-24 as VanPelt scored 12 of his 16 points in the first half.
In the first half, Concordia's defense held the Comets to 30.0% shooting (10-30) and forced 10 turnovers which led to an 11-2 scoring margin and 8-0 in transition. The Golden Bears were also much more aggressive, getting to the foul line 17 times (12-17) compared to just three for Mayville State (1-3).
Concordia's lead continued to bounce between six and 13 points for the first part of the second half until a three-pointer by junior
Keith Crockett extended the margin to 14 (59-45) with just under 10 minutes to play in the game. Crockett finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists on the night.
The Golden Bears would lead by double-figures until 20 seconds to play when the Comets finally cut the gap to nine, 71-62.
The key possession down the stretch came in the six minute range after Mayville State's DJ Carroll converted a layup to cut the lead to 11, 62-51.
The Golden Bears held the Comets scoreless for the next 4:08 of play while draining the shot clock on successful offensive possessions multiple times to push for the game-high lead, 68-51 with 3:15 to play as junior
Travon Mitchell hit a pair of free throws.
Mitchell was perfect at the line in seven attempts and scored 14 points in 27 minutes off the bench. Mitchell and Olstad would combine to shoot 13-of-14 at the line while the rest of the team shot just 9-of-23.
Even still, Concordia's 37 free throw attempts netted the squad 22 points while the Comets attempted just nine free throws (6-9) on the night.
The Golden Bears continued solid defense in the second half as Mayville State shot 37.8% after the break and finished at 35.8% (24-67). Concordia fared slightly better on offense at 41.1% (23-56).
Led by senior
Chris Halvorsen inside, the Golden Bears won the rebound margin 45-40 including 17 offensive rebounds. Halvorsen finished with 10 points and nine rebounds, adding two blocked shots along with his frontcourt mate sophomore
Shea Mandli.
The Comets were led by point guard Anthony Burns with 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists while DJ Carroll scored 12 points with eight rebounds off the bench.
Concordia continues non-conference play this Saturday night, hosting Waldorf College at 7 p.m. at Gangelhoff Center.
