The #24 Briar Cliff men's basketball fell in their GPAC opener Saturday to RV Concordia in the Newman Flanagan Center. The Chargers fell behind early after a slow start offensively and were unable to mount a comeback.
 
"Concordia came out and played at high level from the start today," said head coach Mark Svagera. "We didn't match their level of intensity or execution. We need to be better moving forward and that starts with me and our preparation."
 
The Bulldogs scored early and often, taking a 22-5 lead seven minutes into the contest.  Facing their largest deficit of the first half, 12-34, the Chargers scored 10 in a row to cut the lead to 12 with 5:56 left in the half. Concordia would build their lead back up before halftime, taking a 48-27 lead into the break.
 
BC shot 35.5% from the field in the opening half, 33.3% from deep and did not attempt a free throw. Concordia held shooting splits of 56.3/41.7/87.5 after 20 minutes of play.
 
The Chargers outscored the Bulldogs 31-30 in the second half, but Concordia was able to keep the Cliff at bay with a 20-point lead throughout.
 
Jamison Helmers and Nick Hoyt had five points in the second half, followed by Nathan Hall's four and Blake Sindelar's three points. Sindelar totaled six rebounds in his 10 minutes of action.
 
Conner Groves had a team-high 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting. Hoyt and Matthew Stilwill had eight points apiece. The Chargers shot 37.7% from the field and were 7-for-27 from deep.
 
The Chargers will look to bounce back Wednesday night in Yankton, South Dakota against Mount Marty.