CONWAY, Ark. -- Junior forward Percy Green posted a double-double of 29 points and 10 rebounds and Concordia University (Texas) battled back from a 10-point second half deficit to earn its first-ever trip to the SCAC Men's Basketball Tournament final, defeating LeTourneau University, 94-87, in Saturday's second men's semifinal at Grove Gymnasium on the campus of Hendrix College. Official Tournament Website | Photo Gallery | Postgame Interview | Men's Tournament Stats
LeTourneau led for almost 27 of the game's 40 minutes, but Concordia's pressure eventually wore down the Yellowjackets. Trailing 68-58 with 13:55 remaining in the game, Concordia went on a 16-2 run over the next seven minutes to take a 74-70 lead and would not trail again. LeTourneau made it a one possession game at 78-75 with 4:29 remaining but that would be as close as the Yellowjackets would get.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams came out cooking in the first half, and paced by 16 points from Jackson Mayes, LeTourneau took a 53-44 lead into the halftime locker room.
- Concordia's Green had 19 of his game-high 29 points in the electric first half. He hit 8-of-11 shots from the field in the opening period.
- After turning the ball over just five times in the opening half, LeTourneau turned it over 19 times in the second half, which Concordia turned into 22 points.
- Concordia's bench outscored LeTourneau's 54-24; and the Tornados held an advantage of 46-28 in points in the paint.
- Saturday's game was the first for LeTourneau in SCAC tournament play.
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY (TEXAS) STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Jackson Mayes: 24 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals
- Teigan Edwards: 18 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals
- Cooper Smith: 10 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals
- Alex Ferrell: 11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
NOTABLES
- This was the highest scoring regulation game in SCAC men's tournament history as the team's combined for 181 total points. it is the second highest scoring game of all-time, trailing only the 99-95 double overtime championship game thriller between Texas Lutheran and Dallas in 2019.
- In its second year in the conference, Concordia advances to its first-ever SCAC men's basketball title game. The Tornados were eliminated in the quarterfinal round at their inaugural tournament appearance.
- Concordia will take on St. Thomas in Sunday's title game and with 48 combined wins (23 for CTX; 25 for UST), it marks the most combined wins for the participants in the SCAC men's championship game in the history of the event.
- The title game battle between Gold Division foes will be their third of the season and St. Thomas swept the two regular season match-ups - taking an 81-79 victory on Feb. 1 in Austin and an 84-76 victory in Houston on Feb. 15.
- LeTourneau, champions of the SCAC Blue Division, ends the season with a 17-9 overall mark.
UP NEXT
Concordia (23-4) advances to tomorrow's SCAC Championship game where the Tornados will play the top-seed from the Gold Division, St. Thomas (25-1). Tip for tomorrow's title game is scheduled for Noon CT.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the CTX men's basketball program, follow us on social media @ctxathletics and visit athletics.concordia.edu.
