AUSTIN, Texas – Despite a 38-point career scoring night from Kobe Parlin, Concordia University ran away with a 109-87 win over visiting Whitworth in a non-conference men's basketball matchup on Saturday night at Deb & Don Christian Fieldhouse.
The Pirates (0-2) struggled to take care of the ball and turned the ball over 34 times, much in part to a disruptive full-court press employed by the Tornados (1-0).
Parlin started hot, netting eight of the Bucs' first 10 points to take a six-point lead three minutes in. The Tornados press made it difficult for Whitworth to get into its offense, resulting in a big 27-5 run and 31-15 lead with eight minutes to go in the half. Whitworth's offense went cold during that stretch, going 2-16.
The Pirates flipped a switch and made their next seven shots over the next five minutes, eventually cutting the deficit to 41-37 following a pair of free throws from Nate Krohn. Jackson Skaggs hit a three-pointer to bring the score to 49-42 at the half. Concordia's press resulted in 20 first-half Pirate turnovers, converted into 44 points. Whitworth shot 38.2% in the first half.
After scoring 20 points in the first half, Parlin picked up where he left off and scored the first eight for the Bucs in the second. His three-pointer got Whitworth to within 53-48, but it would be as close as they would get. Concordia made ten of their next 15 shots and wore down the Bucs to pull away. Jonah Johnson's three-pointer pushed the lead to 78-64 at the 11-minute mark before it eventually ballooned to 108-81 with two minutes to play, their largest of the game.
Whitworth shot 39.7% (27-58) from the field but fared better from beyond the arc at 40.6% (13-32). Parlin added seven rebounds and two assists to his game-high 38 points on 11-21 shooting. Krohn was the only other Pirate in double figures with 10.
Anariss Brandon led Concordia with 24 points and Percy Green added 23. Five Tornado players recorded at least three steals. Concordia shot 55.1% (43-78) from the field and 31.3% from three-point range.
The Pirates will return to Spokane for their home opener against Northwest (Wash.) on Friday at 11:00 am.
