COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Concordia Ends Losing Streak
Already burned once this week by a last-second three-point shot, Concordia men’s basketball Coach Greg Marshall saw the scenario playing out again Thursday night at Concordia.
With Concordia leading by two, Chapman’s Adam Dzierzynski was tripped up near half court, fell, got up and tossed up a two-hand set shot from several feet beyond the three-point line. It looked as if it had a chance as the buzzer sounded.
Said Marshall: “I thought, ‘The Lord wouldn’t do that to us twice.’
“That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
Dzierzynski’s shot glanced off the backboard, missing the rim by several inches, and Concordia had ended its three-game losing streak with a 77-75 nonconference victory. The Eagles (18-4) also ended Chapman’s six-game winning streak.
Concordia took its final lead when Tarik James made a jumper with 4.9 seconds left.
Chapman (12-6) called timeout and set up a play for Dzierzynski to dribble downcourt and try to make a layup. Concordia, which lost to Point Loma Nazarene on a three-pointer at the buzzer Tuesday, set up a full-court zone press.
Dzierzynski appeared to be bumped or tripped at midcourt but no foul was called.
“He gets up off the ground and shoots the ball,” said Marshall, who said he thought his team might have gotten away with a foul. “He never quits. That’s what makes him such a great player.”
Said Chapman Coach Mike Bokosky: “I think if the refs wanted to they could have made that call. But I’m not a ref; I’m a coach.”
Dzierzynski, who finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, said he felt no contact, that he simply tripped.
It was a furious ending to a intensely played game. Concordia jumped to a 20-7 lead, but Chapman rallied with a three-point barrage. During one stretch the Panthers made four consecutive three-pointers to take a 28-26 lead. Chapman led, 35-34, at the half.
Neither team led by more than four in the second half and after the nine-minute mark, the margin was no greater than two.
Pharoah Jones and Jeff Putnam each scored 20 points and James scored 18 for Concordia. Toby Curto scored 13, Ramin Bastani and Stefan Mumaw each scored 12 and Anthony Gonzales scored 11 for Chapman, which plays its first home game since Dec. 31 Saturday against UC Santa Cruz.
In California Coastal Conference men’s basketball:
Pacific Christian 105, La Sierra 98--Charles Ross scored 22 points and Dave Hesterly added 21 for Pacific Christian (17-10, 8-0). La Sierra’s Mike Paden scored 46 points before being ejected with 40 seconds remaining.