Macalester Game 1 Recap

Courtesy of GoCobbers.com, Release: January 2

Macalester Game Box Score - Now Online!

Gameday Scoring Recap

Team	1st Half	2nd Half	Total
Concordia	27	33	60
Macalester	31	30	61

Gameday Recap

ST. PAUL, Minn.-- Concordia used a 13-7 run at the start of the second half to erase a four-point halftime deficit, but it wasn't enough as Macalester scored the final seven points of the game and edged Concordia 61-60 in the first game of the 2006 calendar year.

The Cobbers fall below the .500 mark and slip to 4-5 on the season. They are now 3-2 in conference play. The Scots get a much-needed MIAC victory and raise their league mark to 2-3. Macalester wins for only the third time this year and improve to 3-7 on the season.

Luke Linz stepped up for the Cobber offense. Playing without pre-season All-American Keith Eckhoff, who tore his ACL in a practice before the Christmas break, Concordia used a balanced offensive attack to take a six-point lead with 3:25 left in the game.

Four Cobber players finished the game in double figures. Besides Linz' 15 points, senior Jason Miller added 14 points, while Brock Citterman chipped in 11 and fellow sophomore Anthony Boike netted 10 points.

Macalester was led by a pair of players who combined to score 45 of the team's 61 points. Tommy Conboy led all players with 23 points as he went 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Teammate Brendan Bosman added 22 points and was 7-of-13 from the field and 7-of-10 from the free throw line.

The key moment of the game took place with less than 2:00 remaining in the second half as Concordia head coach Duane Siverson was ejected from the game after receiving a questionable second technical foul.

The Cobbers led 60-56 when Concordia senior Mark Dixon drove the lane and was whistled for an offensive foul for allegedly clearing out the defensinve player. Upset at the call, Siverson stamped his foot at the call and was given the first technical as the official decided to take over the game from the players. Siverson was then given a second technical, resulting in the automatic ejection. Bosman stepped to the line and proceeded to make three of the four foul shots and cut the lead to 60-59.

The Scots then missed a jumper after receiving possession of the ball after the technicals. Leading by one, Concordia turned the ball over and then fouled Conboy with :28 left in the game. Conboy made both free throws and set the stage for a last-second shot for the Cobbers. After two timeouts, Linz missed a 12-foot, fadeaway jumper from the baseline with :03 left and Bosman collected the rebound to end the game.

Concordia shot 47.7% (21-of-44) from the floor in the game including 54.5% (12-of-22) in the second half. The Cobber defense limited the Scots to 36.1% (22-of-61) from the field in the game. Macalester won the game at the free throw line in the second half. After going 0-of-5 (0.0%) from the line in the first period, the Scots rebounded to knock down 10-of-18 (76.9%) free throw attempts in the final 20 minutes.

The Cobbers will stay on the road and travel to Northfield when they play at Carleton on Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 8:00pm. The game can be heard live via the internet at: