Schell's Layup Completes Concordia's Comeback Against St. John's

Cobbers overcome late six-point deficit to win MIAC men's basketball matchup.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 11:23pm

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Concordia's Payton Schell scored a game-winning layup with 10 seconds remaining to complete the Cobbers' comeback against St. John's in a 71-69 MIAC men's basketball victory. Concordia overcame a six-point deficit in the final minute to secure the win at home.

Why it matters

This comeback victory showcases Concordia's resilience and ability to battle back against a tough conference opponent. The win keeps the Cobbers in the hunt for a strong MIAC finish after an earlier loss to St. John's earlier in the season.

The details

Concordia trailed by six points with just over a minute to play, but a missed free throw by St. John's allowed the Cobbers to mount a late rally. Senior Jackson Loge grabbed the rebound and found freshman Payton Schell for the game-winning layup. Concordia senior Jacob Cook led all scorers with 26 points and 9 rebounds, while St. John's was paced by 23 points from Peyton Podany.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
  • Concordia trailed by six points with just over a minute remaining in the game.

The players

Payton Schell

A freshman player for Concordia who scored the game-winning layup with 10 seconds left.

Jacob Cook

A senior player for Concordia who scored a game-high 26 points and grabbed 9 rebounds.

Peyton Podany

A player for St. John's who led his team with 23 points.

Tyler Bormann

The head coach of the Concordia men's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not going to lie, I was pretty surprised”

— Payton Schell, Concordia Player

“I had to make sure I could make it. I didn't want to miss that one.”

— Payton Schell, Concordia Player

“He's as savvy of a freshman as I've ever coached. He's just got a ton of poise.”

— Tyler Bormann, Concordia Head Coach

“They threw multiple defenses at me. They let me go one-on-one, and then they threw baseline doubles from the high side, just mixing it up. I've learned over the years to be able to attack different ones, but it can be a challenge when you're working on one thing and they keep sending new things at you.”

— Jacob Cook, Concordia Player

What’s next

The Cobbers will look to build on this comeback win as they continue their MIAC schedule. Their next game is scheduled for Saturday, February 1st.

The takeaway

Concordia's ability to rally late and secure the victory showcases the team's resilience and poise, traits that will serve them well as they push for a strong finish in MIAC play.