RIVER FOREST, Ill. – The Edgewood College men's basketball team found an offensive rhythm that had eluded them for the last three games. However, a big first half run was enough for Concordia University Chicago to seize control of the game in an 89-77 victory on Saturday at Geiseman Gymnasium. Four Eagles scored in double figures, but Edgewood College left still looking for the first win of the season.
Edgewood College (0-5, 0-3 NACC) scored the first five points of the game and bolted out to a 12-4 lead following a three-point basket by Spencer Barnes. An Emilio Lopez three-pointer kept the Eagles in front 17-13 halfway through the first half, but Concordia Chicago (1-2, 1-1 NACC) and Kylan Anderson started to find their groove. Anderson scored seven of the Cougars next nine points to give his team a 22-17 lead. Adam Freitag hit a three-pointer to get the Eagles back within one at 26-25, but CUC finished the half on a 15-4 run to own a 41-29 lead at the break.
The Eagles looked to be in trouble early in the second half after Laron Wade three-pointer put the Cougars ahead 54-35 with 13 minutes to play. However, Freitag drilled another of his four three-pointers to spark an Eagle run. Dylan Heemstra scored a pair of conventional three-point plays and Trevon Ampe added back-to-back baskets in a 15-1 spurt the brought the Eagles within 55-50.
However, Anderson cut off the run with another three-point basket and the Cougars pushed their advantage back up to 71-54 with eight minutes remaining. The Eagles countered with an 8-0 run behind four points from Lopez and another Barnes three-pointer. Sy Staver got the Eagles within seven with a three-point shot with three minutes to go, but Concordia Chicago made 11 of 12 free throws to close out the game.
Ampe finished with a career-high 16 points and a career-high seven rebounds, shooting 8-for-9 from the field. Lopez tallied 15 points and six boards. Freitag nailed four three-point baskets for all 12 of his points, while Heemstra scored nine of his 11 points in the second half and added six rebounds. Barnes and Staver had three assists apiece. Edgewood College overcame first half shooting woes to hit 43.6 percent from the field in the second half.
Anderson poured in a game-high 32 points and added 10 rebounds to lead the Cougars. Mitch Pelissier scored 17 points and Kris Clayborn added in 15 from the bench. The Cougars and Eagles were equal in field goals and three-point baskets, but CUC won the game with a 25-13 advantage at the free throw line.
Edgewood College's next game will also be in River Forest. The Eagles will return south on Wednesday night to face Dominican University at 7:00 p.m.
