RIVER FOREST, Ill. – The MSOE men's basketball team had it's shot to cruise into the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) tournament victorious but couldn't survive a hot middle half from Concordia University Chicago.

FINAL SCORE
MSOE RAIDERS – 68

Concordia Chicago - 81

HOW IT HAPPENED

• MSOE (12-13, 9-9 NACC) drew the first line in the sand of consistent lead after back-to-back threes from Jess Hartman and Mason Dopirak for a 11-5 lead five minutes in. Concordia Chicago (13-12, 9-9 NACC) took their turn with the lead with eleven minutes remaining in the half, but Donovan Carter didn't allow them to have it long as after a layup, the Raiders retook the lead 28-26 with six minutes remaining.
• The Raiders a minute later boosted a seven-point lead thanks to a and-one one play from Aidan Blackmon thinking they were in the clear for the remainder of the half, but the Cougars end the half on a heater to create a ten-point lead of their own to head into the break 48-38.
• The Cougars came out of the break with the same fire they had heading in as they jumped out with a 21-point lead minutes in. Anay Amoah went on a 5-0 stretch to bring the Raiders down 14 but was quickly fizzled back to 20-point deficit. The Raiders could never find another run late as they fall 81-68.

MSOE STAT TRACKER
Points – Donovan Carter (14)
Rebounds – Matus Dopirak (7)
Assists – Jess Hartman (4)
Steals – Five with one
Blocks – Jess Hartman (2)

WHO'S ON DECK
The Raiders now head into the NACC tournament next week as the No. 6 seed. They'll head to the No. 3 Benedictine University on Tuesday, February 20th with tip-off set for 7:00 PM.

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