Cobber Men’s Basketball kicked off their season 2-0 despite significant roster changes. 

MOORHEAD – With the 2024-25 season starting comes many changes, one of which is an updated starting lineup; however, if there were any difficulties in adapting the Cobbers showed zero sign as they picked up their second win of the season in a blowout victory against Providence Manitoba Pilots during Concordia’s home-opener Friday 15. 

Changes to this year’s roster are due to the three seniors who graduated after last season, two of which Matt Johnson and Jackson Jangula played significant roles as guards. During the 2023-24 season, Johnson averaged 15.6 points for the Cobbers. Stepping into that role are senior Zach Jackson and junior Peyton Belka both of which were dependable options off the bench last season, now tasked to run point on the starting lineup. 

“Peyton and Zach just need to be themselves. You know, we can’t ask them to be Matt. Matt (Johnson) was a dynamic shot maker, and that isn’t to say that Zach and Peyton can’t, it’s just they need to be themselves,” said head coach Tyler Bormann. 

The main difference between this year’s starting lineup and last Is the lack of the traditional two-guard, whereas currently, Belka is running the point through three spaced-out forwards and a flexible center, seemingly emphasizing height. 

“It’s just kind of a different way that we’re looking at the game…just trying to attack the attack the rim. We got a lot of size in this team, so we’re trying to play with our friends,”  Belka said.  

Bormann also shared insight into the new season schedule that looks past the MIAC conference. He stated that instead of playing a total of 20 MIAC conference teams twice they will now play 16 with the addition of four out-of-conference teams. 

“It just gives us more non-conference opponents to scale. So, instead of playing everybody twice, we’re playing four teams one time and playing everybody else twice,” said Bormann.  

Kicking off Friday’s matchup against Manitoba, the Cobbers grabbed possession off the jump, proceeding to score the first bucket of the game from a drop step layup by Concordia junior Jackson Loge. Returning as a starter from last season, Loge had proved to be a more than consistent scoring option from inside the paint as well as rebounder. Loge posted the game high of 16 points. 

Throughout the game, the Pilots struggled to make shots and rebound off the glass, due to the significant height advantage held by the Cobbers. 

“Our forward position is a deep position for us. And we feel like there’s a lot of ways in which we can play, personnel wise. And it’s early in the year so that isn’t to say that all year, this is how we’re going to necessarily start but right now I like giving that a look to play,” said Bormann. 

Besides Belka, the Cobbers starting lineup includes players from 6 foot 6 inches and above opposed to the Pilots whose starting lineup only includes two players taller than 6 foot 2 inches. This height advantage lead the Pilots to be out rebounded 26 to 53 and awarding the Cobbers 15 points from offensive rebounds.  

The Cobbers held the Pilots to just 13 points in the first half while building a solid lead ending the half with 45. Although the Pilots would more than double their points in the second half with 28, the Cobbers were able to run away with 38 points ending the game 83-41. 

Despite the win, Bormann expressed a number of key takeaways moving forward.  

“We have the ability to be physical, but we also have to just stay disciplined. If we get outside of ourselves a little too much, it’s hard to be the best version of yourself. We’ve got a great, great group of guys to work with, and we’ll get there,” said Bormann.