Men's Basketball | 1/8/2010 12:00:00 AM
Box Score McPherson, Kan. – McPherson set the tone with a 25-6 run to open the first half, as the Bulldogs defeated Southwestern College, 89-66, on Thursday night at the McPherson Sport Center. With the win, the Bulldogs remain a perfect 5-0 in conference play and improve to 12-2 overall. The 5-0 start for McPherson is the best since the team began the season 4-1 in 1995-96.
The Bulldog offense was once again clicking on all cylinders, with 12 players scoring, including five in double figures. Seniors Mike Reece and Dwayne Thomas led all Bulldogs in scoring with 14 points each. Thomas added a team high eight rebounds and three assists. Other Bulldogs in double figures included senior Patrick Nemechek (12 points), junior Trent Severs (11 points) and sophomore Aaron Frazier (10 points). Nemechek set a season high with his 12 points.
Frazier directed the offense with a game high seven assists off the bench.
After trading baskets to open the game, McPherson used a 25-6 run to propel them to an early 27-8 lead. A barrage of three pointers by the Bulldogs and a dunk from senior forward Antowine Lamb capped the McPherson run.
Coming out of a timeout, Southwestern turned up the defensive intensity, holding the McPherson offense scoreless for the next three and a half minutes to cut the McPherson lead to single digits, 31-22. Freshman guard Kasey Miller answered the Moundbuilder run with his only field goal of the night, a 20 footer to push the Bulldog lead back to double digits.
Three additional McPherson three pointers help the Bulldogs to enter halftime locker room with a 45-29 advantage.
McPherson connected on 17-of-29 (58.6 percent) field goals in the half, including 7-of-13 from downtown. McPherson’s defense held the Builders to 11-of-23 in the first half, while forcing Southwestern into 11 turnovers.
The Bulldogs came out of the intermission on fire, using free throws and timely scoring to push their lead out to as much as 29 points, 82-53. Southwestern pushed to get back in the game, but McPherson refused to let up, holding the 29-point lead, 89-60, with 2:02 remaining before cruising to an 89-66 victory.
McPherson returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 9, when they travel to Leavenworth, Kan., to take on the University of Saint Mary. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
