ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College men's basketball team suffered an 85-72 defeat to Concordia College in a MIAC contest Saturday afternoon in the Leonard Center. The Scots are now 7-13 overall and 3-12 in the conference, while the Cobbers improve to 12-9, 9-7 MIAC.

Early in the first half, Concordia used a 15-2 run to take a 17-8 lead six minutes into the game. The lead grew to as many as 14 points before Macalester closed out the half with a 12-7 run to make the halftime score 43-34 Cobbers. Concordia hit 7-of-14 from three-point range in the half and shot 56.7 percent overall from the field compared to 46.4 percent for the Scots.

Momentum stayed with the visitors, as a 17-5 spree pushed Concordia's lead to 64-43 with 10:46 remaining in the game. But Macalester did not give in, using a three from junior guard Gunnar Goeden (Appleton, Wis./Appleton North) to spark a 12-3 run and cut the deficit to 12, 67-55 with 4:42 to play. The Scots came within 11 points four times in the final two minutes, but the Cobbers held on to avenge a loss to Macalester in Moorhead earlier this season.

Senior center Kareem Ismail (Pasadena, Calif./Flintridge Prep) led all players with 23 points to go with seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Michael Gutierrez (Stillwater, Minn./St. Croix Prep Academy) tallied 20 points, six assists and five rebounds, while sophomore forward Wyatt Ferm (Farmington, Minn./Farmington) added 12 points and eight boards. Goeden had a strong game off the bench with 10 points and two assists. Austin Nelson paced the Cobbers with 20 points.

Macalester continues MIAC play with a home game against Carleton College on Wednesday, Feb. 8. The game starts at 7:00 p.m. in the Leonard Center.