MEQUON, Wis. –  The CUW Men's Basketball team played for the first time in 2022 on Saturday night when they took on Concordia University Chicago. This was the first time CUW played in 21 days. 

The Cougars scored first and never looked back as they came away with a 77-75 victory in a hard-fought NACC game. The Falcons are now 4-3 in NACC Conference play. 

Senior Brandon Keller (Plymouth, Wis.) scored the first basketball for the Falcons and went a perfect 3-3 from the field in the first half. He led the Falcons with 13 points and nine rebounds. 

The Cougars kept the lead going into halftime with a 37-30 advantage over the Falcons. The Falcons slowly chipped away at the deficit throughout the second half. Junior Jared Jurss (Sheboygan, Wis.) had all 11 of his points and four of his nine assists in the second half to help start the Falcon comeback.

A steal and made layup from Senior Jordan Johnson (Cedarburg, Wis.) gave the Falcons their first lead of the night 39-38. Five ties and five lead changes later, the Cougars found themselves up 77-73 with seven seconds left. One last basket by sophomore Matt LaVene (Manitowoc, Wis.) would do it for the Falcons falling just short from a second-half comeback. 

Senior Garrett Hoffmann (Belgium, Wis.) made a team-high four threes for 12 points on the night. 

Junior Gabe Pruss (North Fond du Lac, Wis.) added 11 points off the bench for the Falcons. 

The Falcons will look to bounce back at Lakeland on January 12.