Men's Basketball | 2/10/2011 11:22:05 PM
Box Score
Box Score
Hillsboro, Kan. – The McPherson College men’s basketball team used a solid second half to turn a four-point halftime deficit into a 68-61 win over first place Tabor College on Thursday night.
McPherson (15-11, 9-6 overall) connected on 50.0 percent (13-of-26) of attempts from the field, while converting 16-of-18 (88.9 percent) trips to the foul line in extending its win streak to seven games. The Bulldogs ended the night shooting 37.3 percent (22-of-59) from the floor and set a season best with a 87.5 percent success rate at the charity stripe.
Junior forward Jordan Crawford (McPherson, Kan.) recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 20 points, 14 of which came in the second period, and 10 rebounds, while twin brother Chris Crawford (McPherson, Kan.) and sophomore Mason Hewitt (Norwich, Kan.) added 10 points apiece. Senior guard Trent Severs (Inman, Kan.) rounded out the MC double figure scorers with 11 points, while tallying a team-high three assists.
McPherson struggled in the opening period, making only 27.3 percent (9-of-33) of their shots, but were able to keep pace due to nine Tabor turnovers. TC opened the game with an 8-2 run, including a pair of three-pointers. The run was answered by an MC 7-0 streak of their own, capped by a three-pointer by Crawford. The effort gave the Bulldogs their only lead of the half, 9-8, with 15:20 remaining in the period.
Tabor would extend its lead out to a period high seven points following a Kyle Wallace three-pointer, but a last second trey from Samson Shivers (Houston, Texas) cut the deficit to four, 29-25, entering the locker room.
Both teams traded baskets to open the second period before an 11-2 run by the Bulldogs gave McPherson their first lead since 15:20 in the first half, 48-46. Back-to-back steal and scores by Shivers and Severs capped MC’s run.
Tabor tied the score, 56-56, five minutes later when Lawson Kingsley was fouled and connected on a runner in the lane. He converted his free throw attempt to complete the three-point play.
However, the Bulldogs would outscore Tabor 12-5 over the final six minutes of the period, including going 8-for-8 from the free throw line during the stretch.
Damon Dechant led Tabor (17-7, 11-4 KCAC) with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Phillip Jimenez recorded 11 points and five rebounds in the effort. The Blue Jays shot 43.6 percent (24-of-55) from the field and 25.0 percent (5-of-20) from beyond the arc.
McPherson outscored Tabor, 21-8, at the free throw line.
McPherson returns to action on Saturday when they host Bethany College. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. inside the McPherson Sport Center.
