KCAC

[Men's Basketball] (RV) Concordia pulls away from Men's Basketball Falcons in Season Opener

Hastings, Neb. – The (RV) Concordia University Bulldogs broke open a tight game in the second half and went on to an 87-57 win over the Friends University Falcons in head coach Austin McBeth's first game at the helm today (Oct. 29) in Hastings, Neb.Ian Konek (JR/Long Beach, Calif.) scored the Falcons' first five points of the contest as Friends held an early 7-4 lead.The Bulldogs scored the next nine points to take control, but the Falcons hung tough and trailed just 37-35 until a three by AJ Watson closed out the first half and gave Concordia a five-point lead at the break.The momentum for Concordia carried over into the second half with 11 unanswered points during the first five minutes to extend the edge up to 16.Concordia never looked back from that point in pulling away for the win.Konek finished with a team-high 10 points for the Falcons, with Trey Reid (FR/Wichita, Kan. ) and Jordan Gary (FR/Decatur, Ga. ) each chipping in with nine points. Konek and Tim Barbieri (JR/Abilene,Kan. ) also led the Falcons with five rebounds each, while Davonte Pack (SR/Sumter, SC) dished out a team-high five assists.The Bulldogs placed five players in double-figures, led by Justin Wiersema's 19 points. Watson had a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds for Concordia.Tomorrow, the Falcons will play at Hastings College at 6 pm to conclude play in the tourney.