#20 Northwestern captured the GPAC men’s basketball championship Tuesday night with a dominant 102–72 win over Concordia at the Bultman Center.
The Red Raiders shot 60.6 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range while building a 57–32 halftime lead and never looking back. Northwestern also controlled the glass with a 36–26 rebounding advantage.
Jalen Langsy led Northwestern with 30 points, while Jesse Van Kalsbeek added 26 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. Brennan Reid contributed 14 points as the Raiders had four players score in double figures.
Head coach Colton Kooima said he was proud of the team’s overall performance.
Northwestern finished the game with 23 assists and used a balanced attack throughout the lineup. Northwestern opened the season on a strong run but hit a difficult stretch early in conference play, including close losses to Doane, Morningside in overtime, Concordia, and Mount Marty. By early January, the Red Raiders sat at 5–5 in GPAC play before turning things around.
The championship extends Northwestern’s late-season surge after an uneven start to conference play and sends the Raiders into the NAIA national tournament on a long winning streak.
Kooima says the team is excited to host the opening rounds of the tournament in Orange City.
Northwestern now awaits its national tournament matchup announcement on Thursday.
