Men's Basketball | 1/22/2011 11:24:57 PM
Box Score
Box Score
Salina, Kan. – The Bulldogs opened the extra frame with three consecutive three-point plays en route to an 83-75 overtime victory at Kansas Wesleyan Saturday night. The victory is the second overtime win in a row and improves MC to 3-1 overtime contests.
The win improves McPherson to 10-11 overall and 4-6 in conference play, while the Coyotes fall to 7-13 and 4-6 in league action.
The Coyotes controlled the tempo for a majority of the first half, including a 13-0 run late in the period to give KWU a 35-17 lead with 3:32 remaining. A pair of McPherson three-point baskets from Kasey Miller (Derby, Kan.) and Aaron Frazier (McPherson, Kan.) brought MC back within 12, 36-24, at the intermission.
McPherson struggled offensively in the first half, shooting only 29.2 percent (7-of-24) from the floor and were out-rebounded, 24-14. Kansas Wesleyan received 16 of their 36 first half points off the bench.
McPherson finally caught fire three minutes into the second half as MC used a 20-8 run to knot the score at 49-49 with 8:32 left in regulation. The run was sparked by a four-point play by Samson Shivers (Houston, Texas) and capped by an old-fashioned three-point play by Frazier.
After trading baskets for the next four minutes, Frazier converted a runner in the lane to give MC its first lead of the night, 55-53. The Bulldogs clung to the lead for a remainder of the period until Kansas Wesleyan tied the score with three late free throws.
MC had a final chance to win in regulation, but Shivers off-balance three-point attempt went wide.
However, the overtime period was all Bulldogs, as MC connected on 5-of-5 attempts from the field and 8-of-10 trips to the foul line. The period opened with three consecutive three-point plays by the Bulldogs. MC’s defense was relentless during the period holding KWU to just 3-of-11 shooting from the field.
For the game, McPherson shot 45.0 percent (27-of-60) from the field, 35.7 percent (10-of-28) from three-point range and 65.5 percent (19-of-29) from the charity stripe. Shivers led all scorers with a season-high 25 points to lead four Bulldogs in double figures. With the effort, Shivers has scored at least 20 points in three of McPherson’s last four games. Other Bulldogs in double figures include Frazier with 19, Mason Hewitt (Norwich, Kan.) with 15 and Jordan Crawford (McPherson, Kan.) with 11.
Coyote guard Matt Dickman led KWU with 23 points off the bench, while Brandon Flax tallied 14 points in the loss. Kansas Wesleyan turned the ball over 20 times, but held a 54-37 advantage on the boards. As a team, KWU shot 35.3 percent (24-of-68) from the field and 62.5 percent (20-of-32) from the free throw line.
MC will return to action next Thursday when the Bulldogs host Ottawa University at the McPherson Sport Center. The game is scheduled to tip at 8:00 p.m.
