[Men's Basketball] Concordia Uses Second Half Run to Escape Men's Basketball Falcons

Hastings, Neb. – In a game of wild swings, it was the Concordia University Bulldogs with the last push to win 74-69 over the Friends University Falcons today (Oct. 26) in Hastings, Neb.

After Friends surged to a seven-point lead, the Bulldogs answered with a decisive run, outscoring the Falcons 18-4 over the next six plus minutes to take a lead of 62-55 with 5:07 left.

The Falcons managed to climb within four on a late three by James Conley (SR/Derby, Kan. ), but a putback by Chuol Biel and two free throws by Tanner Shuck thwarted the attempt at a comeback.

In the final seconds, Grant Bugbee (SO/Wichita, Kan. ) converted his second four-point play of the game to create the final five-point margin.

Prior to the Bulldogs' big burst, the Falcons had a run of their own, as Bugbee's first four-point play along with four points from Conley fueled a 10-0 spurt that turned a three-point deficit into a 51-44 lead at the 11:45 mark of the second half.

In the first half, the Falcons fell behind by seven when five points from Jun Murdock (FR/Wichita, Kan. ) and yet another four-point conversion, this time by Conley, sparked 11 straight points for a 19-15 edge.

Keeping with the theme of the game, the tide again turned as the Bulldogs went on a 10-2 run to take a four-point lead before winding up with a 33-27 lead at the break.

Conley led the Falcons (0-2) with 24 points, with Zion Fralin (JR/Wichita, Kan. ) adding 11 and a team-high seven rebounds. Conley and Tate Vang (JR/Wichita, Kan. ) each had a pair of assists for Friends.

The Bulldogs got a team-high 17 points from both Shuck and Brevin Sloup, while Sammy Adjei added 15 points. Biel led Concordia (2-0) with eight rebounds.

The Falcons will now prepare for their home opener next Saturday afternoon (Nov. 2) vs. Langston University. Tip-off is set for 4 pm inside the Garvey Center.