MEN’S BASKETBALL USES BIG SECOND HALF TO PACE CONCORDIA IN WHAC OPENER WIN

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Men's Basketball (6-0, 1-0) secured its first conference win on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Concordia Cardinals (2-2, 1-1) 91-77 at Cardinal Fieldhouse. After a close first half, Rochester used a big three-point shooting stretch early into the second to create the separation needed for an important win.

Sophomore Gunner Walters led the Warriors in scoring with 20 points while also dishing out six assists with five rebounds. Backcourt mate Brody Parker recorded 17 points while also impacting the glass with six boards. The Cardinals' Zavion McClendon played a stellar offensive game, scoring 35 points to pace the home team.

Rochester succeeded in the paint, with the team shooting over 57% from the field. Additionally, bench scoring was key for Rochester, with Brett White and James Fisher combining for 27 points.

THE RUNDOWN

FIRST HALF

• It was all about balance for the Warriors in the first half, with five Warriors scoring at least five points. Despite only shooting 25% from beyond the arc, Rochester pounded the paint and found good looks within 15 feet
• Parker started the scoring for Rochester on a midrange pullup jumper, which was the bread and butter for the Warriors' starting guard tandem. Rochester's guards all played strong in the first half and helped keep Rochester above Concordia for the majority of the game
• After checking in 11 minutes into the contest, senior Bralin Toney made an immediate impact by hitting a three off a find from Walters before pulling down a big defensive rebound moments later
• Rochester got a six-point lead thanks to another Toney three with 2:30 to go in the period, with Brandon Michrina making big plays both facilitating and drawing fouls. Walters would find Fisher for a layup at the half-buzzer to maintain the margin

SECOND HALF

• The Warriors stretched the lead out to nine after Michrina would get a driving layup, followed by a dunk from Fisher off an Anthony Cukaj assist
• The Cardinals' McClendon would put up a strong effort defensively to narrow the lead, but Walters would find an open three off a great kickout by Fisher. That would begin a critical stretch for the Warriors, with White nailing a three off the bench before Walters would find nylon again shortly after, thanks to a dish from Parker
• The lead grew for the Warriors when Toney forced a steal, leading to a White layup in transition. Toney and White connected again shortly after to get the lead to 16
• After a brief run by the Cardinals, Parker made a clutch play by securing an offensive rebound and quickly finding Fisher for another dunk with three minutes remaining

STAT OF THE GAME

Despite both teams matching each other with eight turnovers, Rochester found itself capitalizing more often, scoring 11 points in transition to the Cardinals' seven.

POSTGAME PRESSER

Head Coach Klint Pleasant had this to say on Parker and Walters' performances:

"We've always looked at heart and grit before how tall someone is. The will and desire was there for them, especially as the game went on. They were both playmakers, shotmakers, and leaders. And I felt like, for the most part, it was all done within the offensive flow we wanted."

UP NEXT

The Warriors return home right before Thanksgiving break for a matchup with the Aquinas Saints (3-1, 1-0) on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Hussein Murray - RU Athletic Communications

Featured Image Courtesy of Concordia Cardinal Athletics