MADISON, Wis. - Sometimes it's just not your night. The Concordia University Wisconsin men's basketball ran out to an early lead and cruised past Edgewood College 85-64 in a Northern Athletics Conference contest on Thursday night at the Edgedome. The Falcons shot 61.3 percent in the first half to keep the Eagles at arms' length the whole evening.
Concordia University Wisconsin (10-6, 7-2 NAC) got it rolling early, by scoring the first 12 points of the game. Steve Zielinski scored nine straight points and Mark Pace hit a three-pointer, before Edgewood College's Michael Janusek hit a three-point basket to get the Eagles on the board. First half highlights would be few and far between for Edgewood College (4-14, 3-6 NAC). A three-pointer from Tal Diekvoss brought the Eagles back to 20-11, but that would be the last time the margin of the game was in single digits. The Falcons carried a hefty 47-22 lead into halftime.
Edgewood College played considerably better basketball in the second half, but the Falcons' margin was too big to overcome. The Eagles best stretch came near the 15 minute mark of the second half. Four different Eagles scored on five consecutive possessions, including baskets for Dylan Rusch, Luke Thein, a pair of buckets by Joe Klocek and a three-pointer from Diekvoss that capped an 11-2 run and trimmed the Falcons lead to 56-37. Edgewood College also outscored the Falcons 17-6 over the final five and a half minutes of the game.
Brett Meinecke scored 13 of his 16 points in the second half to match his career-high. Meinecke hit three three-point baskets on six attempts. Janusek and Rusch tallied nine points apiece, while Klocek had a team-high six rebounds to go with six points. Diekvoss also had six points and a team-best three assists. The Eagles shot 48.4 percent (15-for-31) in the second half, but just 39 percent for the game.
Concordia University Wisconsin was led by Pace's 20 points on 6-for-7 shooting. Zielinski scored 19 points, all in the first half, while Al Kahlfeldt came off the bench to add 10 points. The Falcons shot a sizzling 60 percent (33-for-55) from the field on the night.
Edgewood College will have seven days to reflect on Thursday night's game before their next contest. The Eagles will travel to Maranatha Baptist on (2-12, 0-9 NAC) January 24, to start a stretch of three straight road games.