Men's Basketball | 2/16/2011 9:25:18 AM
SENIOR NIGHT
Game 28: McPherson College (16-11, 10-6) vs University of Saint Mary (16-12, 9-7)
Thursday, February 17, 2011 | 8:00 p.m. | McPherson Sport Center | McPherson, Kan.
Game Notes (PDF)
Live Audio
The Matchup
The McPherson College men’s basketball team looks to continue to gain ground on second place Tabor College, as the Bulldogs host the University of Saint Mary Thursday night for MC’s final regular season home game on the 2010-11 season.
Thursday’s game is scheduled to tipoff at 8:00 p.m. A radio broadcast will be provided by 96.7 FM KBBE Mid-Kansas Radio with Nick Gosnell on the call. An audio stream will also be available at www.macbulldogs.com
The Bulldogs (16-11, 10-6) enter the week as the hottest team in the middle of a jumbled conference race. McPherson has won eight straight contests to move into sole possession of third place following an 81-68 win against Bethany College on Saturday. Only one game separates MC from second place.
In opposite fashion to McPherson’s previous win against Tabor, the Bulldogs jumped on the Swedes early scoring 52 first half points to lead 52-35 at the break. MC shot 55.3 percent (21-of-38) in the opening period, including 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from beyond the arc. Bethany made a run in the second half, but McPherson was able to hold on for the 13-point win.
While freshman guard
Samson Shivers (Houston, Texas) led McPherson with 18 points, the Bulldogs balance was evident against the Swedes. Six Bulldogs had at least eight points, including four players in double figures. In addition to consistent individual play, MC shot better than 80.0 percent from the free throw line for the third consecutive game.
McPherson’s depth will be important against an athletic University of Saint Mary side that defeated the Bulldogs, 83-66, in their first meeting.
The Spires enter the contest with a 16-12 overall record and 9-7 mark in conference action. USM has won two straight, including a 52-49 defeat of Bethel College on Saturday night. The Spires feature KCAC scoring leader Brandon Coleman, who averages 17.8 points per game on 41.5 percent shooting. He also leads the team with 75 three-point baskets.
Following the Spires, McPherson wraps up its regular season at KCAC leading Sterling College on Saturday night. Tipoff between the Bulldogs and Warriors is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Scouting USM
USM continues to hover between the third and fourth spot in the conference standings, as the Spires at 16-12 overall and one game behind McPherson for third place with a 9-7 KCAC mark. The Spires have won two straight, including a 52-49 victory against Bethel College last Saturday night. Prior to the win streak, USM was in the midst of its coldest stretch of the season, as the Spires had lost five straight conference games.
In their last game against Bethel, the Spires overcame a 35.6 percent (16-of-45) shooting percentage by forcing the Threshers into 17 turnovers. Senior guard Brandon Coleman paced the offense with 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including a 5-of-8 success rate from beyond the three-point line. Fellow senior Korie Fisher was the only other Spire in double digits with 14 points, while recording a game-high nine rebounds.
USM features possibly the best scorer in the conference in Coleman, who leads the KCAC at 17.8 points per game on 41.5 percent shooting. His team high 75 three-pointers ranks 14th nationally, while a 81.7 percent free throw percentage is second in the KCAC. Coleman owns 10 games of at least 20 points, including three of greater than 30. In USM’s first meeting with McPherson, Coleman led the team with 30 points on 8-of-14 shooting.
Sophomore guard JEB Greenberg is the second USM player in double figures at 13.3 points per game, including a 22 points effort against Bethany College on January 27. Greenberg leads the team with 43 steals and 76 assists, while ranking second on the Spires with 154 total rebounds. In three games with McPherson, Greenberg is averaging 16.7 points per game.
As a team, USM ranks in the top 25 nationally in three-point field goals made (213) and scoring defense (67.4 points per game).
The Spires are coached by Jon Bishop and assisted by Brian Rutz and Anthony Spencer.
In their last meeting...
Leavenworth, Kan. – USM used a strong second half offensive performance to pull away from the McPherson College men’s basketball team in an 83-66 win in KCAC action Saturday afternoon.
With the loss, McPherson fell to 8-11 overall on the year, 2-6 in league play, while the University of Saint Mary improved to 13-7 overall and 6-2 in the KCAC.
In the first half, McPherson shot a dismal 27.3 percent from the field, but found themselves down only four, 34-30, heading into the intermission. Sophomore guard Kasey Miller (Derby, Kan.) paced the MC offense with six points, while Samson Shivers (Houston, Texas) and D’onte Woods (Houston, Texas) each had five.
In the second half, USM again had the hotter hand, as they shot 61.5 percent (16-of-26) from the floor, including 62.5 percent (5-of-8) from beyond the three-point arc. The Spires swung the momentum in their favor early in the period with a 13-2 run to gain a 54-39 advantage with 12:58 remaining. The run proved too much for McPherson to overcome, as the Bulldogs would pull no closer than nine points the rest of the way.
The Spires were led in scoring by Brandon Coleman, who ended the contest with 30 points, while Jeb Greenberg added 15 and Chris Wing 10. As a team, USM shot 49.0 percent from the field and was 8-of-13 from beyond the arc.
Overall for McPherson, Shivers was the team’s leading scorer with 20 points on 7-of-17 shooting. The performance is the second consecutive game where the Houston, Texas native has scored at least 20 points.
The Bulldogs return to action on Wednesday, January 19 when they host Sterling College. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.
