Cobbers Warm To Carolina Weather In Opener Of The Guilford Holiday Classic

GREESBORO, N.C. (12/29/25)---It took Concordia 24 minutes to get acclimated to the warm weather in Greensboro, N.C., but once they shed their winter coat, the Cobbers were able to power their way to an 83-60 win over Skidmore (N.Y.) in the opening game of the Guilford Holiday Classic.

Concordia went on a game-deciding 27-7 run at the start of the second half which turned a 1-point deficit at 45-44 into a 19-point advantage at 71-52. The Cobbers ended up doubling up the Thoroughbreds in the second half as they posted their third straight win.

Concordia remains unbeaten in non-conference play for the season as they move to 8-0 against non-league opponents. CC is 8-2 in all games.

The first half on Monday was a back-and-forth affair that featured six tie scores and six lead changes. Neither team was able to hold more than a 7-point lead and Concordia was able to take a 42-40 lead at the break after they scored the final five points in the opening period of play.

One of the biggest keys in the game for CC came after Skidmore had taken their biggest lead of the game at 16-9 with 14:00 left in the first half. The Cobbers proceeded to go on an 8-0 run on a layup from Justin Courneya and 3-pointers by Payton Schell and Peyton Belka.

The game would stay within four points until Concordia's game-clinching run to start the second half.

The Cobbers finished the game by shooting 43.1% (28-for-65) from the floor and 46.7% (14-for-30) from outside the arc. The 14 made 3-pointers are the most this season.

Skidmore (4-4) shot 41.1% (23-for-56) from the field and 33.3% (10-for-30) from distance.

Concordia held a 41-35 advantage in rebounds and a 26-18 edge in points in the paint.

Schell posted his best overall game of the season. He went 5-for-10 from outside the arc and finished with a game-high 22 points – his second 20-plus point total of the year.

The first-year guard also added five blocks and three steals. His 3-point field goal and block numbers tie his season high in those categories.

Belka was 3-for-5 from 3-point range and had 11 points.

Senior power forward Jacob Cook put up 16 points and nine rebounds, while Jackson Loge came away with a game-high 12 rebounds to go with eight points and two assists.

Cook has now scored at least 10 points in all 10 games this year while Loge has posted a double-digit rebound total in three straight games and six overall.

Concordia will square off against host Guilford in the championship game of the Holiday Classic on Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. (cst).  

COOK COUNTER: With his 16 points and nine rebounds against the Thoroughbreds, Jacob Cook now has 975 career points and 525 rebounds. He is now fourth on the school's all-time rebounding list and 17th in points.