Men's Basketball | 2/7/2010 12:00:00 AM
Box Score Winfield, Kan. – The McPherson College men’s basketball team won a knockdown, drag-out brawl against the Southwestern College Moundbuilders, 67-56, Saturday night at the Stewart Field House.
“This was a great team win,” said McPherson College head coach Tim Swartzendruber. “Our defense and rebounding won the game. We had some guys come off the bench to spark us once again. Pat Nemechek and Kasey Miller each hit a key basket for us when Southwestern had made a run. Southwestern is a good team and winning there was certainly a big victory heading into this week.”
Senior forward Antowine Lamb completed his third consecutive double double of the season to propel McPherson to an overall record of 18-5 and 11-3 in KCAC action. With the loss, Southwestern drops to 11-13 and 7-7 in league play.
Lamb paced the McPherson offense with 11 points, while pulling down a season-high 16 rebounds, while fellow senior Marlon Dominique added 11 points and a game high six assists. Sophomore Aaron Frazier was the only other Bulldog near double figures as he finished the night with nine points. Ten different Bulldogs scored as many as three points.
Both sides struggled to find a rhythm on offense in the first half. McPherson held a lead as much as 11 in the opening period, but a late 8-0 run by the Builders pull the game within three, 25-22 with just under two minutes left. Lamb ended the run with two straight baskets to give the Bulldogs a 29-22 half time lead.
McPherson struggled at maintaining possession in the first half, as the Bulldogs turned it over 15 times. Defensively, the Bulldogs held Southwestern to 27.6 percent shooting in the opening 20 minutes.
In the second half remained just as physical as the first. With the game tied at 45 with 7:29 remaining and the momentum beginning the swing in Southwestern’s favor, senior forward Patrick Nemechek connected on a three-pointer from the corner as the shot clock expired to give the Bulldogs life. On the next possession, after a Southwestern charge, freshman Kasey Miller followed Nemechek’s example with a three of his own to give McPherson a six point advantage, 51-45 with 6:20 left.
Southwestern would cut the deficit to three, 53-50 on a deep three from Tim Miser, but again McPherson would answer with a pair of free throws from Lamb and a layup by Frazier.
The Bulldogs would sealed the game as Lamb converted a three-point play to give McPherson an 11-point, 63-52 lead with 1:07 to play. McPherson would connect on their free throws down the stretch en route to the 67-56 win.
For the game, McPherson shot 46.9 percent from the field, including a 61.1 percent effort in the second half. The Bulldogs turned the ball over a season-high 26 times, but out rebounded the Builders, 54-22.
Defensively, the Bulldogs held Southwestern to 34.9 percent shooting from the field. Senior guard Justin Diggles led the Builders with 14 points, while Tim Miser added 13.
After a couple of days off, McPherson returns home to take on the University of Saint Mary Thursday night inside the McPherson Sport Center. Tip is set for 8:00 p.m.
