Bronxville, NY – The Concordia College Clippers men's basketball team battled the Caldwell Cougars this evening in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) matchup. In an exciting game, the Cougars edge the Clippers 80-78 for their sixth win of the season.
Early in the first half, both teams were neck and neck on the scoreboard as neither team could gain an advantage. After a three-point basket by the Cougars with 8:51 to go in the half, Caldwell opened up a slim lead.
Concordia kept close with the Cougars and eventually tied the game at 37-37 after a three-point basket by junior Lavor Morris (Bronx, NY) with just less than three minutes left in the period. Caldwell scored two straight baskets to go into the locker room with a 41-37 lead.
In the second half, the Clippers took the lead after another three-point basket by Morris with 13:28 remaining. Concordia would hold onto the lead for the next three minutes until the Cougars took the lead back. Both teams began alternating the advantage on the scoreboard with under 10 minutes to play.
Caldwell held a four point lead with 2:52 to go after a layup and Morris would get the Clippers back into the game. He scored four straight points to tie the game with two minutes to play.
Free throws for the Cougars would play a huge factor in the closing minutes as they converted on 6-of-10 to hold a four point lead with 30 seconds to go. Concordia would get to the foul line and sank both shots to close the gap to two points. A solid full-court press by the Clippers caused a turnover to give them a shot at tying or taking the lead. Concordia was unable to get a clean look at a shot with time running down and Caldwell held on to the victory.
Junior Argelix Gil (Brooklyn, NY) led the Clippers with 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field while adding 10 rebounds, two steals and a block. Morris added 22 points off the bench while chipping in with five rebounds, three assists and a steal for Concordia. As a team, the Clippers shot 45.5% (30-of-66) from the field and shot 11-of-14 (78.6%) from behind the three-point line.
Concordia (5-4, 2-2 CACC) will have over a week off until their next game. The Clippers will travel to Southern Conn. St. on Sunday, December 18th for a 3:30pm game in New Haven, CT.
