OMAHA, Neb. -- The Indiana University Northwest men's basketball team saw their season come to a close as the RedHawks finished their best year to date as the RedHawks lost to Concordia (Neb.), 96-78, at DJ Sokol Arena Friday.

TEAM RECORDS 
No. 5 seed Concordia (26-6) | No. 12 seed IU Northwest (23-8)

QUARTER BREAKDOWN
1st Half: No. 5 seed Concordia 54, No. 12 seed IU Northwest 41
2nd Half: No. 5 seed Concordia 42, No. 12 seed IU Northwest 37
Final Score: No. 5 seed Concordia 96, No. 12 seed IU Northwest 78

IU NORTHWEST LEADERS
Points: Marshaud Watkins (17), Jared Johnson (13), Jerron Tatum (12), Brian Hernandez (11)
Rebounds: Jared Johnson (12)
Assists: VaShawn Sims (4)
Blocks: Jared Johnson (3), Marshaud Watkins (2)
Steals: Brian Hernandez (2)

GAME RECAP
Concordia started the game with a three-pointer then Marshaud Watkins responded with a jumper. The Bulldogs responded with three straight baskets to go pull ahead 9-2.

Brian Hernandez responded with a layup to make it 9-4. After the Bulldogs responded with a three-pointer, Watkins knocked down a basket and a three-pointer to 12-9 CUNE. 

CUNE responded with a layup then Damond Crosby had the response with a basket of his own. Jared Johnson made a three-pointer to make it 16-14 Bulldogs with 13:27 left. 

Crosby made back-to-back baskets to cut it back down to one (21-20). Both teams went back-and-forth with the next few baskets before Concordia made it 33-25 with 6:13 left in the first half

IU Northwest fought back and scored seven unanswered points after a three-pointer by Watkins, a layup by Jerron Tatum and a jumper by Watkins which made it 33-32 CUNE. The Bulldogs responded with eight straight points to extend their lead out to 41-32.

Hernandez and Tatum bounced back with back-to-back baskets to try to get back in the game with CUNE leading 41-36. The Bulldogs got back-to-back three pointers to make it 47-36 with under two minutes left in the half. 

Jason Peace got a three-pointer and Tromon Weston made a basket to cut it back down to nine (49-41) with under a minute left. CUNE closed out the half with a three-pointer and a layup of their own to go up 54-41 at the break.

Johnson started the second half with a layup looking to put the RedHawks back in the game. Concordia built up a 64-50 lead with 16:15 left in the game. Johnson responded with a pair of baskets to make it 64-54 with 14:26 in the game.

Both teams scored a pair of buckets to keep it a 10-point game. CUNE made a little bit of a run before Tatum knocked down a three-pointer.

The Bulldogs extended their lead to 81-64 with 5:32 remaining in the game. Tyler Houston made a layup to cut it back to 15 points. 

CUNE extended their lead out to 21 (87-66) under around four minutes left. Hernandez and Ryan LaFollette made back-to-back threes which made it 94-76. 

Concordia ended up winning the game 96-78 after Watkins knocked down a three at the buzzer. 

SEASON ENDS
IU Northwest Men's Basketball ends their season 23-8 with their first trip to the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship Opening Round.