Falcons Slash First-Place Sabres in Overtime

MEQUON, Wis. – The Falcons found themselves in a battle once again on Tuesday night, this time against the Sabres that stood atop the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference standings. The Falcons came out on top of the slugfest with an 81-75 overtime victory to improve to 5-12 on the year.

Both teams exchanged punches to start the first half with the lead changing hands often in the first half.

A three-point basket from junior Freeman Jackson (Green Bay, Wis.) gave CUW the lead at 23-22 with 6:46 remaining in the half.

The Falcons pushed the lead up to six points on three different occasions for the biggest lead of the game.

The Sabres clawed their way back and cut the Concordia lead to 37-35 at halftime.

The lead was exchanged eight times in the first half.

The Black and Blue wasted no time taking the lead back to start the second half on a 5-0 run.

The Falcons feasted in the paint on Tuesday and a layup from senior Grant Karsten (Decatur, Ill.) gave the Falcons back the lead at 46-44. Three minutes later, he sank a three-point basket to give CUW another six-point lead at 62-46.

Both defenses stood tall in the final seven minutes, with both teams only scoring a combined 17 points.

The Sabres took a 72-70 lead with a dunk off a turnover and looked like they would take the game after a defensive stop and a trip to the free throw line for senior Josh Nicklaus.

The rim that had taken a beating from pregame on was unkind to the Sabres as the ball clanked off and the Falcons tied the game with a layup from senior Matt LeVene (Manitowoc, Wis.).

The Blue and White then found themselves in their second overtime game of the year and their first since a 105-100 victory over Cornell in double overtime.

The Sabres took the first punch with the first three points of overtime, but CUW got the last laugh with a 9-0 run to close the game.

Senior Gabe Pruss (North Fond Du Lac, Wis.) had a pair of layups to give CUW a 79-75 lead and Matt LeVene put the final nail in the coffin with a pair of free throws.

All five starters for CUW scored 10 or more points in the victory. Gabe Pruss and Freeman Jackson led the way with 18. Grant Karsten followed behind with 14 and senior Jared Jurss (Sheboygan, Wis.) and Matt LeVene added 12 points each.

Gabe Pruss led the birds with eight rebounds and Jared Jurss had a game-high four assists.

CUW finished with 50 points in the paint in the victory.

The Blue and White posted a season-low six turnovers on Tuesday night. The lowest since having four on Feb. 5, 2022, against Benedictine.

The Falcons will "experience" Nebraska this weekend at the Concordia Invitational Tournament. Starting with semifinal action against Concordia Ann Arbor on Friday.