It didn't take long for the Concordia (Moorhead) Cobbers to assert themselves during the title game of the Merrill Thompson Tipoff Classic Sunday afternoon. And unfortunately for the UW-Superior men's basketball team, the Cobbers never let up, sprinting out to a big early lead before easing home the rest of the way for an 84-62 win at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium.
A balanced offense proved to be Concordia's greatest ally on the day, as the Cobbers (3-1) had seven players score at least eight points with four registering double-figures for the afternoon.
The Yellowjackets meanwhile saw Jarrod Peterson (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) and Bronson Byrne (Chanhassen, Minn./Chaska) combine to score 42 of the team's 62 points in dropping to 2-3 heading into Wednesday night's WIAC conference opener against UW-Stout.
Concordia (Moorhead) started the game at a sizzling pace, getting baskets from Tom Fraase, Brady Syverson and Jordan Bolger in the first 2:16 to take a 7-0 lead.
Aaron Corry (Lake Nebagamon, Wis./Northwestern) finally got the Yellowjackets on the board with 16:44 left when he scored off a nice feed from Tilyn Hollis (Minneapolis, Minn.) to make it a 7-2 contest.
But the Cobbers came right back, getting a three-pointer from Brandon Giese on the next possession to up their advantage to 10-2 with 16:27 left in the opening half.
Concordia (Moorhead) continued to surge, outscoring UW-Superior 16-6 over the next 6:19 to take a 26-8 lead following a layup by Jordan Deutsch with 10:08 showing on the clock.
Another long three by Giese gave the Cobbers their largest lead at 34-10 with 8:03 remaining before the Yellowjackets made a late run, getting layups from Corry, Hollis, Peterson and three points from Byrne in the final 2:50 to come within 45-31 at the break.
Three straight baskets from Byrne in the first 1:59 of the second half allowed UW-Superior to trim the margin to 47-37 with 18:01 left in regulation.
Giese connected on another three on the following possession however and the Cobbers' lead never got any lower than 10 points the rest of the way as Concordia forced 19 Yellowjacket turnovers and out-rebounded UW-Superior 39-29 for the game.
Offensively, Peterson led the Yellowjackets with 22 points and eight rebounds while Byrne finished with 20 points and six boards.
Concordia (Moorhead) was paced by Giese with 17 points. Syverson had 12 points for the Cobbers while Ryan Rude and Bolger each pitched in with 11.
Opening tipoff between the Yellowjackets and the Blue Devils from Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on 91.3 FM KUWS with Matt Johnson on the call.