Courtesy of Midland Athletics
SEWARD, Neb. — Midland University traveled to Seward, Nebraska, on Wednesday night to face (RV) Concordia University in a Great Plains Athletic Conference matchup. In a physical contest that featured 38 total fouls, the Warriors fell 104-82 to the (RV) Bulldogs on the road.
Jake Orr opened the game with a layup as the teams traded baskets early, keeping the score tied at 9-9. Concordia applied pressure with a 10-2 run to take a 19-11 lead. Brayden Thompson knocked down a three-pointer to halt the run, and the teams exchanged baskets before the Bulldogs used a 5-0 spurt to extend the lead to 28-19.
Trey McCain and Butch Lordeus responded with a 5-0 run for Midland to cut the deficit to four, but Concordia answered with another 5-0 run. The Warriors continued to battle, as Anthony Simon and Thompson combined for a 6-0 run to pull within six at 36-30. Concordia countered with a 7-1 run and entered a timeout leading 43-31 with five minutes remaining in the half.
After two free throws by Nick Dolezal, both teams endured a scoring drought until Concordia broke through with a basket at the 48-second mark. Simon capped the half with a layup as Midland went into the locker room trailing 45-35.
Simon opened the second half with a layup before Concordia added two free throws. Orr sparked a 9-2 run to cut the deficit to four at 49-45, but the Bulldogs responded with a decisive 16-4 run to push the lead back to double digits at 65-50.
Orr and Lordeus answered with an 8-0 run to keep Midland within reach, but Concordia followed with a 12-2 surge to extend the margin to 77-59. Cole Petersen scored during a brief back-and-forth stretch before the Bulldogs used another 5-0 run to take an 87-65 lead.
Midland responded with a 5-0 run of its own, but Concordia made three free throws and hit a three-pointer to go ahead 93-70 with five minutes remaining. Lordeus delivered a one-handed dunk during a stretch of traded baskets, but a Bulldogs three-pointer pushed the score to triple digits at 102-80. Alec Noonan scored late, and Concordia closed the game at the free-throw line to secure the 104-82 victory.
Orr led Midland with 25 points and seven rebounds. Lordeus added 17 points, followed by Simon with 14 and Thompson with 10.
Midland shot 27-of-62 (43.5%) from the field, while Concordia shot 38-of-66 (57.6%). The Bulldogs knocked down 13 three-pointers compared to seven for the Warriors.
“I thought we gave a good effort tonight,” said head coach Tyler Erwin. “We shot the ball well from three, got to the free-throw line, and made our free throws. Jake was a warrior tonight—he played 37 minutes and had one of his most complete games. But we missed too many plays around the rim that we have to finish. With 16 minutes to play, we were down five and gave ourselves a chance. We have to be better defensively and better on the boards.”
Midland (10-11, 6-7 GPAC) will host Northwestern College (15-5, 7-5 GPAC) on Saturday for its annual Coaches vs. Cancer Night in partnership with the American Cancer Society. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. inside the Wikert Event Center. The Pink Out theme will honor those battling cancer, survivors, and healthcare workers.
