News Release

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. — Concordia-Moorhead College shot 68.2 percent in the second half to erase a three-point halftime deficit and defeat Saint John’s University 69-68 in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game on Wednesday, Jan. 28, at Sexton Arena on the SJU campus. The win for the Cobbers snapped a 10-game losing streak at Sexton Arena and marked the first time since the 1980-81 season that Concordia has swept the regular season series with SJU.

SJU senior Pat McKenzie had a layup rim out with seconds remaining which would have given the Johnnies the win. Concordia had a 67-60 lead with 1:12 left in the game, but SJU scored eight of the final 10 points of the game.

Concordia had four players score in double figures. Sophomore Keith Eckhoff had 13 points, while junior Soren Nelson added 11 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Joe Bueckers and junior Chris Wermerson contributed 10 points each. The Cobbers shot 56.8 percent (25-of-44) from the field and made 17-of-22 free throws. The Cobbers had 40 points in the paint, compared to 18 for the Johnnies.

SJU was led by sophomore Paul Henrichs with 18 points and eight rebounds. Junior Ryan Hinman had 12 points. SJU had 18 turnovers and shot 42.6 percent (23-of-54) from the field. The Johnnies converted on 8-of-15 three-point field goal attempts.

Concordia improves to 12-5 overall and 9-4 in the MIAC. The Cobbers are in third place in the MIAC standings. SJU falls to 7-11 overall and 5-8 in the MIAC. SJU is now in seventh place in the MIAC standings with seven games to play. The top six teams qualify for the MIAC playoff tournament.

Newspaper Box Score
Concordia College vs Saint John's University
01/28/04 7:30 at Sexton Arena, Collegeville, Minn.
At Sexton Arena, Collegeville, Minn.
CONCORDIA COLLEGE 69, SAINT JOHN'S UNIVERSITY 68
CONCORDIA COLLEGE (12-5, 9-4 MIAC)
Keith Eckhoff 3-3 7-8 13; Soren Nelson 5-13 1-1 11; Joe Bueckers 3-3 4-4 10;
Chris Wermerson 4-7 2-5 10; Jason Miller 4-5 0-0 8; Nathan Ohme 3-3 0-0 8;
Josh Downey 2-6 3-4 7; Mark Dixon 1-3 0-0 2; Dan Lund 0-1 0-0 0. Totals
25-44 17-22 69.
SAINT JOHN'S UNIVERSITY (7-11, 5-8 MIAC)
Paul Henrichs 7-14 4-6 18; Ryan Hinman 4-7 2-2 12; Peter Gillette 3-7 2-3 9;
Pat McKenzie 2-7 3-4 8; Matt Ohme 2-4 1-2 7; Nate Kopetka 1-5 2-2 5; Jesse
Ellens 2-4 0-0 5; Andrew Spaanem 2-4 0-0 4; Brent Masica 0-1 0-0 0; Kevin
Markling 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-54 14-19 68.
Concordia College.............   24   45  -   69
Saint John's University.......   27   41  -   68
3-point goals-Concordia College 2-6 (Nathan Ohme 2-2; Soren Nelson 0-2; Josh
Downey 0-1; Dan Lund 0-1), Saint John's University 8-15 (Matt Ohme 2-3; Ryan
Hinman 2-3; Peter Gillette 1-2; Jesse Ellens 1-2; Pat McKenzie 1-2; Nate
Kopetka 1-2; Brent Masica 0-1). Fouled out--Concordia College-Chris
Wermerson, Saint John's University-None. Rebounds-Concordia College 24
(Soren Nelson 11), Saint John's University 33 (Paul Henrichs 8).
Assists-Concordia College 17 (Keith Eckhoff 6), Saint John's University 17
(Pat McKenzie 5). Total fouls-Concordia College 14, Saint John's University
20. A-356