Box Score MOORHEAD, Minn. - The Dragon-Cobber matchup is still relatively new to forward Jake Lindfors. "I haven't played in this game before, but I understand the cross-town rivalry." Losing the last two games to Concordia, however, was very fresh on Charlie Chapman's mind.
"I want revenge."
The Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragon men's basketball team improved to 3-0 with a 96-56 win over the Concordia College Cobbers at Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse, the largest margin of victory in 180 games between the two squads, and setting a new team record in made 3-pointers in a game.
The first three minutes were defined by a balanced Dragon offense, with many of the looks going inside. Lindfors scored four of the first six points, showing his offensive prowess hitting a delicate turn-around baby hook to put the Dragons up 6-4. The Dragons never gave up this lead.
Following an Alex Novak block, Charlie Chapman hit back-to-back 3-pointers, starting another impressive Dragon night from 3-point range. Chapman finished with 20 points, shooting 6-for-8 from three.
The Dragons shot 8-for-11, 72.7%, from three in the first half, and 19-28, 67.9%, for the game. This set a new team record for 3-point baskets made, breaking the previous mark of 16 scored against Presentation College in 2007. Jordan Riewer and DJ Hamilton each had four, with Andrew VanHavermaet and Jake Driscoll each contributed two.
Coach Chad Walthall is happy with the quality 3-point shots his Dragons are taking. "If those are the looks, and they're good looks, I don't mind if they take 50 [3-point] shots. But they have to be good looks."
Jake Lindfors, who also had one 3-pointer on the night, noted the multidimensional offensive contributions of his teammates. "Alex, Charlie, D. J., and Jake. Anyone can score at any given time." Lindfors had an impressive game as well, tying Chapman with a team-high 20 points.
The young Cobber squad, who only has one senior, pushed back late in the first half. Coming out of a time out with six minutes remaining, the Cobbers narrowed the Dragon lead 36-28, and again at the end of the half with Jason Huus tipping in a shot with 17 seconds remaining bringing the deficit to 10. Hamilton, however, answered with a pull-up three with three seconds remaining, ending the half up 47-34, and shifting the momentum back in favor of the Dragons.
"I was sluggish," Lindfors said about his first-half defense. "I am the big man and I needed to do a better job on their big man. We made the necessary adjustments as a team for the second half." These adjustments proved very effective, as the Dragons forced nine second-half turnovers, going on a 16-4 run in the first five minutes. The Dragons were tough on the boards, with 34 team rebounds.
The Dragon men's and women's basketball teams will begin conference play Friday, December 2, at Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse. The women will begin at 6:00 pm, with the men following.
Steve D'Eustachio's Stat of the Game: The Dragons only scored 17 points in a 27-17 loss at the first game ever against Concordia on February 27, 1923. Tonight they had 19 3-pointers!
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