CLARKSVILLE, Ark. – The Concordia University Texas men's basketball team overcame a nine-point deficit and defeated Ozarks, 93-82, for the program's fifth consecutive win on Saturday at Mabee Gymnasium.
Josh Sanchez led four Tornados (8-5, 4-4 ASC) into double figures with a game-high 22 points. The senior guard also added seven assists and seven steals in 33 minutes of action.
Donovan Ford netted 14 points, while
Rashad Coleman and
Andre Potts each added 13. Coleman also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and dished out six assists.
Ted Beard IV and Josh Berard each tallied 17 points to pace the Eagles (5-8, 3-7 ASC).
Ozarks jumped out to a 9-0 lead to start the game. Concordia Texas, which did not score until nearly four minutes had passed in the contest, pulled within 20-18 after a pair of free throws by
Joshua Samuels with 10:39 before halftime. His points started a 12-0 run that put the Tornados in front by eight.
Concordia pushed its advantage to 54-41 after
PJ Escobar buried a 3-pointer from the right corner with 32 seconds left in the half. The Eagles logged four of the final six points of the frame and CTX led 56-45 at halftime.
Ozarks opened the final period on a flurry, scoring 14 of the first 18 points to pull within one.
The Tornados answered by reeling off a 16-4 run to reclaim a 13-point advantage. The Eagles were able to trim the lead to 78-69 on Beard IV's free throw with 8:58, but Concordia again responded with a layup by
Jeromy Bynum to increase the advantage to double figures. The Tornados kept the lead the rest of the way to improve to .500 in league play.
Concordia will resume play on Thursday, Jan. 15, when the squad begins a five-game home stand against Texas-Dallas. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. at Concordia Fieldhouse.
