MOORHEAD – Jordan Bolger’s jump shot with 31 seconds left broke a tie and stood as the game winner as Concordia upset No. 2-ranked St. Thomas 72-66 in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men’s basketball Saturday.
The Cobbers’ win snapped the Tommies’ 16-game winning streak dating back to their only other loss Dec. 3 against Gustavus Adolphus.
With the game tied 66-66, the Cobbers called timeout with 42 seconds left to set up a play for Bolger. He nailed the 17-foot shot to put Concordia ahead for good.
“We ran a play we like to run,” Cobbers head coach Rich Glas said. “He got open and nailed it.”
The Cobbers trailed 40-31 at halftime, but they shot 69.6 percent from the floor in the second half to rally for the upset.
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“We just believed if we could make our shots and kept playing solid defense, anything can happen,” Glas said.
The Cobbers closed the game on a 13-2 run.
Bolger led the Cobbers (14-8, 10-7) with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Ryan Rude added 14 points and four assists.
Conner Nord and Marcus Alipate each tallied 14 points for the Tommies (20-2, 15-2).
Concordia is in the midst of playing seven games in a 15-day stretch. The Cobbers take the court against Monday night at Carleton.
They’re in fifth place in the MIAC, still trying to clinch a spot in the six-team playoff field.
Glas said his team will have little time to celebrate the victory.
“You can’t,” he said. “This (game) is over. We have to go practice tomorrow and get ready to play Carleton. That’s not going to be easy. We haven’t won down there since I’ve been here.”
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ST: Nord 5-14 4-7 14, Saarela 3-8 0-0 6, Alipate 5-8 1-1 14, Shaeffer 2-9 2-2 7, Montero 5-7 0-0 13, Tillman 4-8 1-1 10, Veil 0-0 0-0 0, Dunn 0-1 0-0 0, Boll 0-1 0-0 0, Ancius 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 25-58 8-11 66.
C: Bolger 9-14 2-3 20, Flotterud 3-6 2-2 8, Rude 5-7 3-5 14, Fraase 5-9 0-0 11, Giese 3-10 2-2 11, Bergeson 2-4 0-0 6, Nelson 1-2 0-0 2, Kinny 0-0 0-0 0, Zimmer 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-53 9-12 72.
Half: ST, 40, C 31. 3-point goals: ST 8-14 (Alipate 3-5, Montero 3-4, Shaeffer 1-2, Tillman 1-3), C 7-16 (Giese 3-7, Bergeson 2-3, Rude 1-3, Fraase 1-2, Nelson 0-1). Total fouls: ST 14, C 14. Rebounds: ST 35 (Saarela, Montero 9), C 27 (Bolger 9). Assists: ST 10 (Shaeffer 5), C 13 (Rude 4). Steals: ST 3 (three tied with 1), C 4 (Bolger 2). Turnovers: ST 10, C 7.
