Men's Basketball | 2/26/2010 12:00:00 AM
Box Score McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College men’s basketball team battled back from a 16-point half time deficit, but turned out to be not enough as the Bulldogs fell to the University of Saint Mary, 64-62 Thursday night at the McPherson Sport Center.
The Bulldogs held a 61-60 lead with 4:00 left after a three-point basket by senior guard Marlon Dominique, but USM’s Eric Avant and Brandon Dougherty hit a pair of free throws and a high-arching jumper with less than two minutes left to take the lead back, 64-62. Then, with less than ten seconds remaining, Dominique dribbled baseline before pulling up about eight feet from the basket. Dominique’s attempt fell just short as the final buzzer sounded.
McPherson finished the night shooting 48.9 percent from the field, but struggled from beyond the arc (23.1 percent) and from the foul stripe (50.0 percent). Dominique and senior guard Charles Moore paced the McPherson offense with 11 points, while Mike Reece added 10 to round out the Bulldogs in double figures. Trent Severs tallied a game-high five assists, while Antowine Lamb posted his third straight double figure rebounding game with 11.
In the first half, McPherson trailed by as many as 21 points, 41-20, with 3:00 left. But the Bulldogs closed the half on an 7-2 to cut it to a 16-point game at intermission.
Despite their struggles in the first half, the Bulldogs came out of the locker room on fire in the second half. USM’s Avant opened the half with a three from the wing to push the Spire lead out to 19 points, 46-27 before the Bulldogs rattled off 21 unanswered points to take a 48-46 lead with 13:52 left.
McPherson held a one-point advantage, 50-49, at the 11:15 mark. However, two consecutive three-pointers by Avant and Eric Nietsche gave the Spires back with lead, 55-50 with ten minutes left.
The two sides trade baskets and the lead until Dougherty connected on the eventual game winning basket with 1:22 left to give USM a 64-62 advantage. McPherson had an opportunity in the final seconds that feel just short.
Avant led the Spires with 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field, while Nietsche had 15 and Dougherty chipped in 13.
Despite the loss, the Bulldogs season may not be finished yet. If the No. 1 seed Friends University wins the KCAC Tournament, McPherson will receive the second automatic bid to the NAIA Division II National Tournament held in Branson, Mo.
