A basketball team playing for the final time before its school shuts down at the end of the semester surprised the Seawolves on Saturday.
Concordia-Portland held on for a 72-69 upset of the UAA men, a victory that sends the Cavs out on a winning note. The Portland university announced in February that it will close at the end of the school year.
The Cavs led for much of the game, but UAA had a chance to tie it on the final play. Tyrus Hosley got an open look from well beyond the 3-point arc but missed the shot as time expired.
Concordia went out with a two-game winning streak. UAA ended the regular season with two close losses after winning four in a row to clinch a spot in next week’s Great Northwest Athletic Conference tournament. Saturday’s loss followed a one-point loss Thursday at Western Oregon.
“It is a disappointing way to end a good three-week run,” UAA coach Rusty Osborne said in a release from the school. “We had individuals who did not prepare mentally to face a team that was going to play at their level today, despite warnings from the coaches and a few team leaders.
“Congratulations to (Concordia coach Rodrick Rhodes) and their entire program. I’m disappointed in our performance but very happy for them. In these troubled times, it could be any of us in their shoes.”
Xavier Smith hit four triples on his way to a game-high 26 points for Concordia, and Hosley led four Seawolves into double figures.
Hosley, a senior guard who dropped in a team-high 19 points, scored seven straight points in the game’s final 37 seconds to give UAA a chance at the end.
With his team trailing 70-62, Hosley started his run with a jumper, then buried a 3-pointer after UAA got the ball back on a defensive rebound and then hit a layup after a Concordia turnover. With five seconds remaining, UAA was within a point, 70-69.
The Seawolves quickly fouled the Cavs, and Smith sank two free throws to make it 72-69, helping his team go out with a 5-23 overall record and a 4-16 GNAC record.
The Seawolves outrebounded the Cavs 36-33 but were hurt by 15 turnovers. Junior Oggie Pantovic recorded his ninth double-double of the season with 12 point and 16 rebounds, sophomore Tobin Karlberg hit 4 of 5 from long range for 14 points and junior DeAndre Osuigwe added 10 points.
UAA is 18-13, 11-9 heading into the GNAC tournament that starts Thursday in Seattle.
“It’s now the postseason and (we have) a clean slate,” Osborne said. “We will prepare for whoever we’re matched up with and try to earn a spot the following week in the West Regionals.”