Men's Basketball | 12/11/2009 12:00:00 AM
Box Score Hillsboro, Kan. – Senior guard Mike Reece scored 18 points, including 9-of-9 from the free throw line as the McPherson College men’s basketball team overcame a slow start and defeated the Tabor College Blue Jays 79-65 Thursday night at Tabor College Gymnasium.
“We got off to a slow start, but overall our defense and rebounding were really good,” said McPherson head coach Tim Swartzendruber after the game. “We missed a lot of shots in the paint, but I was pleased with how we kept battling. We hit some key shots in the second half and did a great job at the free throw line.”
The win improves McPherson to 9-2 and 3-0 in KCAC action, while the struggling Blue Jays drop to 3-7 and 1-2.
Three other Bulldogs scored in double digits, including Marlon Dominique, Charles Moore and Trent Severs. Severs added 14 points, while Dominique chipped in with 11 and Moore finished with 10. Forward Antowine Lamb led all players in rebounding, as the 6-6 senior pulled down a season-high 14 boards.
Kyle Kroeker led the Blue Jays with 21 points, while Damon Dechant had 14.
Tabor held the momentum early, as the Blue Jays opened the first half with a 12-5 run capped by a Michael Janzen put back off a Ryan Chippeaux miss. McPherson answered the Tabor run with an 8-0 run of their own. The highlight real play was when Michael Darden thread the needle through two Blue Jay defenders to hit the streaking Reece for an easy layup.
Tabor tied the score twice in the first half, but could not over the Bulldog speed as McPherson took a five point, 33-28 lead into halftime.
The Blue Jays outshot McPherson 42.3 percent to 33.3 percent, but the Bulldogs held a decisive edge in rebounding 30 to 18, including 14 offensive rebounds.
McPherson opened the second half with a 7-2 run to extend their lead to 10 points, 40-30 with a little over 17 minutes left in the game.
In an attempt to slow down the up-tempo McPherson offense, the Blue Jays set back in a 2-3 zone for a majority of the second half. The defense slowed McPherson enough so that Tabor could pull within four, but Reece answered with a three to pull the Bulldog lead back to seven, 55-48 with 10 minutes left.
MC proved to be too much down the stretch, connecting on 12 of their last 14 free throws.
The Bulldogs return to action Saturday, Dec. 12 against Bethany College. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. in Lindsborg, Kan.
