Riley Francis and Nathan Wedel both scored 25 points in leading 11th-ranked Northwestern to a 107-87 GPAC Quarterfinal win over Concordia this evening at the Bultman Center. Northwestern, now 24-5 on the season, will host Doane in the GPAC semifinals on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 4pm. 

 Northwestern shot 60% or better in both halves, 64% for the game, and made a season-high 16 three-pointers while shooting 57% from beyond the arc, also a season-best. 

Francis used a strong perimeter game (4-for-5 from beyond the arc) coupled with being aggressive off the dribble to score 25 points, his third 20+-point game of the season. Wedel also was effective on the drive and from the three-point line, making 3-of-4 from the perimeter. The Red Raiders had great balance on the offensive end with five players in double figures.

The game opened at a frantic pace as both teams were having success on the offensive end, especially from the three-point line. Concordia scored its first 15 points from beyond the arc, getting three-pointers from four different players. A jumper by Wedel put Northwestern in front by one but Concordia came back with a 9-2 run to take its largest lead (28-22) after a two free throws by Clay Reimers with 11:30 left in the first half. 

Trailing by five (35-30), Parker Mulder drained the first of his four three-pointers to begin an 8-1 Northwestern run, putting the hosts back in front, 38-36, the 14th and final lead change of the game. Following a basket by Reimers, Northwestern closed the half on a 12-4 run, led by Mulder, who knocked down two more three-pointers during the surge for a 50-42 halftime lead.

Northwestern outscored the Bulldogs 18-5 over the first six minutes of the second half to really take control, going up 68-47  following a three-pointer by Francis and a lay-up by Wedel. Concordia, however, got hot from beyond the arc once again and made it an eight-point game with nine minutes left following three consecutive three-pointers by Kyle Pierce, Jake Hornick and Noah Valasek. The Red Raiders kept the pressure on, especially on the offensive end, as they answered right back with three-pointers by Wedel and Chris Borchers and led by double digits the rest of the way. 

Borchers matched his career-high with 16 points, going 7-for-9 from the field. Mulder scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half and Buysse contributed 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Colton Kooima added eight points and matched his career-best with eight assists.

Concordia shot 53% for the game, 36% (12/33) from the three-point line. Hornick led all players with 26 points, followed by Reimers with 19. The Bulldogs end the season with a 17-13 record.