GPAC

[Men's Basketball] Men's Basketball Downs Concordia; McKeithen Wins 100th Game

Doane Men's Basketball hosted Concordia on Wednesday in what would be a low-scoring affair that worked in the Tigers' favor. The Tigers held the Bulldogs to 33-percent shooting in posting a 54-50 win over their rivals. The victory was a little extra special for Tiger Head Coach Ian McKeithen, who picked up the 100th win of his coaching career.Shooting percentages were not necessarily on the Tigers side in the game, shooting 36-percent from the floor. The difference came at the free throw line where Doane was 9-of-13 and Concordia was 5-of-12.Concordia jumped out to an early 9-3 lead and built their advantage to 19-10 with 8:37 to play in the opening half. The Bulldogs, however, would go scoreless for nearly eight minutes as Doane used a 12-0 run to take the lead and closed the opening half on a 14-2 run to lead 24-21 at the break.In the second half, Doane would build a seven-point lead, 36-29, before Concordia would battle back to tie the game at 41-all. Joe Burt (SR/Lincoln, Neb.) gave the Tigers the lead with two free throws only to see the Bulldogs hit a 3-point basket to take their first lead since the first half. Josiah Gardiner (SO/Milford, Neb.) followed with a basket to give Doane a one-point lead but Concordia answered with another 3-point basket to take a 47-45 lead with three minutes to play. Much like the first half, Doane used a late run to take the lead. The Tigers went on an 8-0 run over the next two minutes to go up six points. Concordia was able to get a layup to pull within four. Doane missed the front end of their free throw opportunity and the Bulldogs were able to draw a foul on a drive to the basket with 18 seconds left. Concordia made one of two but Doane would turnover the ball, giving the visitors one more chance. A 3-point attempt came up short and Burt pulled in the rebound and drew a foul with three seconds left. He made the first free throw of a 1-and-1 to seal the victory.Alec Oberhauser (SR/Parkersburg, Iowa) led the Tigers with 19 points and 18 rebounds while Gardiner added 19 points and three blocked shots.Doane will hit the road for their next two games, first with a meeting in Sioux Center, Iowa, against Dordt. The Tigers won a two-point game in January over the Defenders and sit a game back of Dordt who is tied for fourth in the GPAC.