ST. PETER, Minn. — Concordia took the lead midway through the second half and held off Gustavus down the stretch for a 61-57 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory on Wednesday at Gus Young Court.
The Cobbers lost eight of nine, all close games, in a month's span to open the new year. But they have since collected three-straight wins and are 7-10 in the MIAC and 9-13 overall with three regular season games remaining, all at home.
The Gusties led 33-31 at halftime but the Cobbers tied it 44-44 with 12:29 left. Then Concordia followed with a 10-3 run, capped by a Matthew Johnson layup, that put the Cobbers up 54-47 with five minutes to play.
Gustavus shaved the lead to one point at 54-53 on an Adam Biewen 3-pointer with 4:17 to play, then later made it a two-point game at 59-57 on Carson Koch's three-point play with 13 seconds left.
But Johnson sealed the deal with two free throws with eight seconds left for a four-point lead. A Gusties' 3-point attempt with one second left missed.
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Johnson led the Cobbers with 20 points and he also had five rebounds and four assists. Rowan Nelson had 11 points and six boards, and David Birkeland, Alex Huber and Cook all scored eight points. Cook also had nine rebounds.
Biewen led the Gusties with 13 points and 13 rebounds and Koch and Jordan Schommer both scored nine. They are 9-9 in the MIAC and 9-14 overall.
The Cobbers kickoff their three-game homestand against St. Scholastica at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11.
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