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POSTGAME INTERVIEW WITH JOSH SANCHEZ

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Seguin, Texas – Josh Sanchez set two career highs with 37 points and five steals to help lead the Concordia University Texas men's basketball team to a 97-91 victory over Texas Lutheran on Saturday, Jan. 19 at Memorial Gymnasium.

The beginning of the game was a shootout, as the teams combined to score 25 points over the first five minutes of play. Sanchez made two free throws to break a 3-3 tie and start a 12-5 run for the Tornados that was capped by a Brett DeMetrotion layup.

Concordia stayed ahead for the rest of the half and went ahead by double figures when Sanchez nailed a trifecta from the top of the key that made it 35-25 with 7:44 on the clock. Texas Lutheran, however, started to claw its way back and cut the Tornado lead down to four at 48-44 the final media timeout by getting two free throws from Evan Reed. After Reed cut the lead to a single point with a good jumper, a Terry  made it 50-48 in favor of the visitors at the break.

The Tornados started the second half strong and got two quick 3-pointers from Sanchez to take a 59-50 lead. Texas Lutheran attempted to chip away at the deficit for most of the half, cutting the margin down to three at 61-58 on a Brandon Potts layup and 68-65 shortly before the midway point courtesy of a bucket by Garrett Wilkins.

Concordia, however, started to break loose with under eight minutes remaining in regulation. After two Justin Lindsey free throws created a 77-73 score, Nick Haynes drained a trey to spark a 7-0 run for the Tornados. Sanchez set up Patterson for a layup to cap the run and force TLU to take a timeout with the visitors holding an 84-73 advantage. 

The Bulldogs did not go away easily and came within three points on three occasions down the stretch. Lindsey hit two clutch shots, including one that cut the Tornado lead down to 94-91 with 15.9 seconds left. Sanchez, however, made two free throws on the other end to put the game out of reach for the Bulldogs.

Sanchez scored his game-high 37 points for Concordia by making six of his 11 field goals from beyond the arc and draining nine of his 10 shot attempts from the stripe. Patterson fell just short of a double-double by finishing with 21 points and nine boards.

Texas Lutheran (5-13, ASC 3-9) was led by Potts and Lindsey. Potts recorded a double-double by netting 35 points and pulling down 13 rebounds, while Lindsey scored 19 points and dished out four assists.

Concordia (13-4, ASC 8-3) visits Howard Payne on Thursday, Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m.