SEWARD, Neb. – A major reason behind the recent surge for Concordia University men’s basketball, sophomore Carter Kent is making big waves for the Bulldogs. On Tuesday (Jan. 7), the conference named Kent the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Men’s Basketball Player of the Week. That makes back-to-back GPAC weekly awards for Concordia. Senior Brevin Sloup took the same honor on Dec. 31.
Kent poured in 25 points in both of last week’s wins that came over No. 19 Northwestern and Dordt. For the week, Kent went a combined 15-for-24 (.625) from the floor, 8-for-13 (.615) from 3-point range and 12-for-14 (.857) from the free throw line. In the 91-79 triumph over Dordt, Kent added three rebounds, three assists, three blocked shots and three steals. The Crete High School product has reached the 20-point mark five times this season, including his career high 28 points in the home win over Midland.
The Crete native is now the team leader with an average of 14.8 points per game. He is shooting 42.5 percent from 3-point range. Through 47 career collegiate games, Kent has piled up 559 points. He was named the 2018-19 GPAC Freshman of the Year.
Kent and the Bulldogs (11-5, 4-4 GPAC) will return to action on Wednesday with an 8 p.m. CT contest at Hastings (9-9, 2-6 GPAC).
Senior Riley Sibbel enjoyed the most productive offensive week of her career. As a result, the O’Neill, Neb., native has been tabbed the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, as announced on Tuesday (Jan. 7). Sibbel is the second Bulldog this season to earn the award, joining Grace Barry (GPAC Player of the Week on Dec. 17).
Sibbel actually re-set her career high point total twice last week. She netted 15 points in the 91-87 win at No. 12 Northwestern and followed it up with 26 points in the 69-55 victory over No. 6 Dordt. On the week, Sibbel made 15-of-23 (.652) shots from the floor and 7-of-13 (.538) attempts from beyond the arc. By halftime against Dordt, Sibbel had already totaled 20 points. The St. Mary’s High School product added three rebounds and three steals versus Dordt.
One of the team’s top defensive players, Sibbel has played in 87 games in her career as a Bulldog and has compiled 380 points, 161 steals, 141 rebounds and 96 assists. Her current average of 8.0 points per game is a career high. Sibbel and the senior class own a four-year record of 119-9.
Sibbel and the top-ranked Bulldogs (14-1, 9-0 GPAC) will be headed to fourth-ranked Hastings (17-0, 9-0 GPAC) for a 6 p.m. CT tipoff on Wednesday.
