Aker Takeover Leads to Overtime Win for Cavaliers

Tied at 77, Concordia witnessed a pair of chances to end the game in regulation bounce off the rim.

Concordia's lineup for '08 Salem-News.com Sports

PORTLAND, Ore. - After surrendering a 21-point lead to take the game into overtime, Concordia University’s Cody Aker single handedly outscored Northwest University in the extra session for a 91-87 win in Cascade Collegiate Conference action on Saturday.

With the result, Concordia moved to 12-11 on the season and 8-6 in conference play while Northwest dropped to 11-12 overall and 7-7 in the CCC.

The Cavs started out sharp by connecting on over 80 percent of their shots well into the first period to mount a 21-point advantage with 6:33 remaining in the period.

Junior guard Desmond Meray (Spanaway, Wash./Bethel H.S.) generated the bulk of the scoring with 17 points in the half including knocking down 4-of-4 from beyond the three-point line. Teammate Cody Aker (Portland, Ore./Wilson H.S.) also provided 11 points in the half to help the Cavs to a 47-32 lead entering the locker room.

Concordia still maintained a double-digit lead with 10 minutes remaining, but accurate shooting from the free throw line and from beyond the three-point arc kept the Eagles lurking for the comeback attempt. Headed by a 7-of-7 second-half performance from the charity stripe by Derek Miller the Eagles converted 18-of-23 foul shots in the period while four different players tallied a three-point make to finally erase the deficit via an Eddie Coulson layup with 56 seconds remaining.

Tied at 77, Concordia witnessed a pair of chances to end the game in regulation bounce off the rim.

Missing Meray in the overtime period due to fouling out with 2:40 remaining in the second period, Aker accounted for 11 of the team’s 14 points including back-to-back three pointers that turned a four-point deficit into a two-point lead.

Following a Pat Mattson miss from three-point land, Concordia’s Ryan Murray sealed the win with a last second rebound and a pair of free throws for the 91-87 finale.

“It was great to see our seniors Cody Aker and Jessie Alvarez asserting themselves,” Concordia head coach Brad Barbarick said. “They understand the battles of the conference.”

After shooting 60 percent from the field in the second period, Concordia dropped to 29.7 percent in the second. Meray scored a game-high 32 points followed by 27 for Aker. Alvarez (Guadalupe, Calif./Righetti H.S.) contributed with nine assists against one turnover in 36 minutes of court time. Miller led the Eagles with 21 points.

Concordia will next face conference leader Eastern Oregon when they travel to La Grande, Ore., on Feb. 8. Northwest will travel to The Evergreen State College to face the Geoducks on Feb. 5.

“We have a tough trip east to play a team that is tied for the conference lead,” Barbarick said. “They will be looking to get us back.”

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