BOX SCORE AUSTIN, Texas -- The Concordia Texas men's basketball team earned a 101-93 victory over UT Tyler Thursday evening at the Concordia Fieldhouse thanks to hitting some key long-range shots.
The Tornados (2-1 ASC, 7-5) used a big second half from
Ben Page,
Donovan Ford and
Rashad Coleman to help seal the first win of 2016. All three had double-digit points in the final 20 minutes alone. Ford colelcted 16 of his team-high 22 points in the period while Coleman added 14 to end the day with 21 total points. Page and Ephraim Price added 12 each.
UT Tyler's (3-3, 8-4) Demarcus Metcalf collected a game-high 23 points.
The key moment of the game came late in the first half. After the Patriots took a 48-43 lead with 35 seconds before the break, it looked like they would go into the locker room up at the half. However, after Coleman cashed in on an old-fashioned 3-point play, he was able to sprint down the floor and block a UTT shot.
Demarco Richardson corralled the rebound and connected with Coleman who sank a 60-footer as time expired, giving the Tornados a 49-48 lead.
The momentum allowed Concordia to hold the Patriots without a field goal for the opening 4:30 of the second half and eventually hold a double-digit lead throughout much of the period. The Patriots were able to draw within four points with 39 seconds left in regulation, but the Tornados went 6-for-6 from teh charity stripe to help seal the victory.
Concordia returns to action Saturday against LeTourneau on Alumni Game Day. The men will tip-off at approximately 3 p.m.