Men's Basketball | 2/12/2011 11:44:13 PM
Box Score
Box Score
McPherson, Kan. – Behind a 52 point offensive explosion in the first half, the McPherson College men’s basketball team won its eighth straight contest, as the Bulldogs downed Bethany College, 81-68, Saturday night at the McPherson Sport Center.
The Bulldogs shot 55.3 percent (21-of-38) from the field and 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from beyond the arc in the first twenty minutes to take a 52-35 lead into the break. MC cooled in the second period, but held off the Swedes en route to the victory.
With the win, McPherson improved to 16-11 overall and 10-6 in KCAC play, while the Swedes fall to 11-15 overall and 9-7 in league action. The Bulldogs gained sole possession of third place in the conference standings with the win.
Freshman guard Samson Shivers (Houston, Texas) tallied his 19th double figure scoring game of the season, as he paced the Bulldog offense with 18 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including a 4-of-8 effort from beyond the arc, while junior forward Jordan Crawford (McPherson, Kan.) chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Aaron Frazier (McPherson, Kan.) recorded a game high eight rebounds.
In opposite fashion to Thursday night’s game with Tabor, McPherson came out firing early building an 11-8 lead behind strong post play from Crawford, Mason Hewitt (Norwich, Kan.) and Jake Jake Reinhardt (Walton, Kan.). The Bulldogs added to their lead a few minutes later with a 6-0 run leading to a Bethany timeout. All three scores came off Swede turnovers with four points coming from Chris Crawford (McPherson, Kan.).
Bethany attempted to cut into the lead, but Shivers found his three-point stroke with a pair of treys to open an 8-0 run that extended MC’s margin to 34-22 with 7:41 left in the opening period. The Bulldogs kept their foot on the gas, outscoring BC 15-8 over the final seven minutes to enter the locker room with a 52-35 advantage.
McPherson was led in scoring by Shivers, who had 12 points at the break.
The opening of the second period looked much like the first after a Crawford jumper and Shivers four-point play made the score 58-37. However, Bethany failed to go away, outscoring MC 18-5 over the next seven minutes to cut the lead to seven, 63-56.
McPherson answered the run with a pair of baskets by Frazier and Crawford, 67-56, to push the advantage back to double figures. The two sides traded baskets over the next three minutes, before the Bulldog defense clamped down allowing only one Swede field goal the rest of the way. Along with a solid defensive effort, MC converted 6-of-7 free throws down the stretch.
The Bulldogs finished the night shooting 45.6 percent (31-of-68) from the field, 39.1 percent (9-of-23) from beyond the arc and 83.3 percent (10-of-12) from the free throw line. MC’s 83.3 percent effort at the foul line marks the third straight game that the Bulldogs have shot at least 80.0 percent.
Bethany was led in scoring by Hayden Parks, who finished the night with 14 points.
McPherson returns to action on Thursday night when they host the University of Saint Mary. Tipoff between the Bulldogs and Spires is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. inside the McPherson College Sport Center.
