Hastings College Men's Basketball v. Concordia, GPAC Semifinal 2024 // HC Bronco Athletics
HASTINGS – Another first for the Hastings College men’s basketball program which is the Broncos are head to a Great Plains Athletic Conference tournament final for the first time ever. What is even sweeter is Hastings will be hosting that game on Tuesday night after defeating Concordia 82-78 on Saturday afternoon in what can only be called a tremendous basketball game inside Lynn Farrell Arena.
This was top notch basketball at its finest as neither team could get much of an advantage especially in the second half. It was hard-nosed, gritty basketball at its finest and unfortunately someone had to lose.
The Broncos did fall behind 22-14 in the first half but quickly erased that lead with threes from Reggie Thomas and Nolan Sughroue and would eventually trail by just one at the break.
Then the second half started and you were not sure either team was going to miss. CUNE shot 60 percent from the floor in the second half while HC shot nearly 57 percent. Neither team led by more than four points in the half.
This game had all you could ever want in a basketball game with two great teams fighting till the very end. Down the stretch these two teams came and they were neck and neck until Noah Schutte got a tough layup to go and after Tyrique McMurrin went up for a layup and there was a no call on the contact in the lane, the Bulldogs took advantage with another Schutte driving layup to go up 78-74 with 1:20 to go. Up to this point in the second half, CUNE was shooting just over 68 percent (15-for-22) from the floor in the half.
The Broncos were really in need of a big basket as McMurrin found a wide open Anthony Thompson in the corner as he drained the three to make it 78-77 with 1:12 to go. Following a timeout by Hastings, the Broncos were able to trap Schutte near midcourt and Grady Corrigan seized the opportunity jumping in front of the pass and going the distance for the layup as HC was now up 79-78 with :44 to go.
Franky Hayden tried to go to the hole against McMurrin but his layup would miss the mark as McMurrin coraled the board and got the ball to Thomas. Thomas would get fouled and make both free throws to go up 81-78 with :19 to go.
The Bulldogs would again try to go to the hole but Tristan Smith’s layup missed the mark as Thomas pulled down the board and would get fouled. He made his first free throw but missed the second as CUNE came down and took a long three but missed as Hastings came away with its first even GPAC semifinal victory 82-78.
The last time the Broncos made it to the conference semifinals was back in 2020 after upsetting Morningside in the first round only to fall on the road to these Bulldogs.
McMurrin had a career night 27 points as he was 9-of-13 from the floor, 2-for-3 from downtown and 7-for-8 from the charity stripe. Thomas finished with 22 points as he was 7-for-13 from the field, 3-for-4 from behind the arc and 5-of-6 from the line while pulling down six boards and dishing out six assists. Quinn Johnson finished with 10 points while Thompson added seven points, Danilo Matovic and Sughroue each had six points while Corrigan finished with four points.
Hastings finished the game shooting 52.6 percent (30-for-57) while CUNE shot 52.7 percent (29-for-55). The Bulldogs shot pretty well from downtown going 8-for-19 but the Broncos were 10-for-17 from behind the arc. Points off turnovers favored Hastings 13-for-4 as the Broncos committed just five turnovers.
Hastings improves to 22-8 (15-5) and will be back in action Tuesday Mar. 5 as Morningside comes to town for the GPAC Championship with tipoff set for 7:00 pm inside Lynn Farrell Arena.
2024 Great Plains Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Post-Season Tournament
GPAC Men’s Basketball Quarterfinals – Wednesday, February 28
#1 Northwestern 78, #8 Dakota Wesleyan 65
#4 Morningside 89, #5 Jamestown 72
#3 Concordia 87, #6 Dordt 83
#2 Hastings 76, #7 Briar Cliff 61
GPAC Men’s Basketball Semifinals – Saturday, March 2
#4 Morningside 93, #1 Northwestern 83
#2 Hastings 82, #3 Concordia 78
GPAC Men’s Basketball Championship Tuesday, March 5
#4 Morningside at #2 Hastings, 7pm
