Austin, Texas – Nick Haynes scored a game-high 28 points to lead the Concordia University Texas men's basketball team to a 96-82 victory over Wisconsin-Stevens Point, the fifth-ranked team in the nation on Monday, Dec. 31 at the CTX Field House. With the win, the Tornados continued their best start in school history as an NCAA Division III program.

Concordia (8-2), which has won six straight games, dominated the game after the opening tip by scoring the first seven points of the game. Larry Durand and Josh Sanchez each made a shot from beyond the arc during the stretch. Wisconsin-Stevens Point, however, came back and took its first lead, 17-16, when Trevor Hass made a layup at the 10:54 mark.

A seesaw battle ensued with the teams exchanging the lead six times before the break. Trailing 32-31, the Tornados embarked on a 17-6 run during the late stages of the half to go ahead by double figures again before Three field by three different Pointer players made it a four-point game at the break.

The teams played the second half close, as there were five ties and two more lead changes before the end of regulation. But it was Concordia that would take the lead for good when Haynes made a layup to break a 73-all deadlock with 5:25 on the clock that started a 14-4 run. A Jared Galvan layup after a Haynes trifecta made it 94-79, putting the game out of reach for the Pointers. Haynes then made two free throws with 34 seconds left to seal the final outcome.

Haynes scored a team-high 28 points by most notably shooting 60 percent from the field and 67 percent from long range to pace Concordia. Dwayne Patterson contributed a double-double with 21 points and 10 boards, while Terry Corprew had 11 points and four assists.

Wisconsin-Stevens Point (10-2), which has won three national championships under the direction of head coach Bob Semling, was led by Joe Ritchay's 20-point effort. Austin Ryf and Jordan Giordana were also among six Pointer players who scored in double figures, netting 14 and 13, respectively. Clayton Hunter fell just shy of a double double by finishing with 10 points and eight boards.

Concordia resumes conference play when it visits Texas-Tyler on Thursday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m.