Men's Basketball | 2/3/2011 11:02:38 PM
Box Score
Box Score
McPherson, Kan. – Aaron Frazier (McPherson, Kan.), Samson Shivers (Houston, Texas) and Jordan Crawford (McPherson, Kan.) combined for 27 of McPherson’s 40 second half points as the Bulldogs won their fifth straight, 69-54, against Friends University Thursday night.
The victory improves the Bulldogs to 12-11 overall and 7-6 in KCAC play, while the Falcons fall to 9-15 and 6-7 in league action.
Trailing 42-40 with 12:24 remaining, McPherson leading scorer Shivers sparked the Bulldog offense to a 16-3 run that gave MC the lead for good. Shivers scored nine of his 12 points during the run, including back-to-back three pointers leading to a Falcon timeout. Friends would attempt to answer with a 10-2 run of their own to pull within four, 58-54, but the Bulldogs were too strong down the stretch.
Frazier finished the evening with a game-high 19 points on 5-of-6 shooting from beyond the three-point line, including McPherson’s first three baskets of the contest. Shivers added 12 points, while Crawford tallied 11 points and a team-leading nine rebounds in the effort.
Friends opened the game with a quick 5-0 lead following a Reggie Britton three and Brett Steven layup, but McPherson would hang close after a pair of Frazier three-pointers. The Bulldogs trailed until Crawford connected on a three-pointer of his own to knot the score, 17-17, with 6:54 remaining in the period. Both teams would trade baskets the rest of the period, as McPherson would enter the locker room with a 29-27 advantage.
The Bulldogs ended the period shooting 40.0 percent (10-of-25) from the floor, including 47.4 percent (9-of-19) from beyond the three-point line. Frazier paced the MC offense with 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting. All four of Frazier’s baskets were three-pointers.
Despite the slight MC lead, Friends came out of the break as the aggressor with an 8-0 run, including six point from Britton to take a 35-31 lead with 16:45 left. The two teams would trade scorers over the next six minutes, before MC’s run put the game out of reach for the Falcons.
The Bulldogs ended the night shooting 43.3 percent (23-of-53) from the field, including a near season-best 41.4 percent (12-of-29) from beyond the arch. MC’s 12 three-pointers were just three behind the program record and marks the most scored this season.
McPherson also out-rebounded the Falcons, 36-32, while forcing 13 FU turnovers.
Friends shot a respectable 40.0 percent (20-of-50) from the field and were led in scoring by Britton, who tallied 13 points in the loss.
McPherson returns to action Saturday night as they travel to Southwestern College. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
