Men's Basketball | 2/9/2011 9:47:32 AM
Game 26: McPherson College (14-11, 8-6 KCAC) at Tabor College (17-6, 11-3 KCAC)
Thursday, February 10, 2011 | 8:00 p.m. | Tabor Gymnasium | Hillsboro, Kan.
Game Notes (PDF)
Live Audio
The Matchup
The McPherson College men’s basketball team looks to revenge a home overtime loss Thursday night, as the Bulldogs travel to Hillsboro for a matchup with the Tabor College Blue Jays. Tipoff at Tabor Gymnasium is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.
A radio broadcast of Thursday’s contest will be provided by 96.7 FM KBBE Mid-Kansas Radio for the listening area. An audio stream will also be available for out of market listeners at www.macbulldogs.com.
The Bulldogs (14-11, 8-6 KCAC) continued their win streak with a 78-65 win at Southwestern College on Saturday. McPherson shot 47.6 percent (30-of-63) from the floor and was 12-of-15 from the free throw line in earning their sixth straight victory.
Junior guard
Aaron Frazier (McPherson, Kan.) paced the Bulldog offense with his first double-double of the season with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Frazier has scored in double figures in every game during MC’s current win streak, including three performances of at least 19 points. He currently ranks second on the team at 11.0 points per game, while leading the squad with 23 blocked shots, 43 steals and a 51.0 percent field goal percentage.
Along with Frazier, steady play from junior
Jordan Crawford (McPherson, Kan.) has been a key to the Bulldogs’ success. In MC’s last six, Crawford is averaging 12.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, including two of his three double doubles on the season.
Tabor (17-6, 11-3 KCAC) is coming off the lowest scoring conference game of the season, a 36-34 win against Bethel College last Saturday. The Jays struggled offensively in the contest shooting a dismal 25.5 percent from the floor. However, the win gives TC victories in eight of their last nine games. Their lone loss during the stretch was against second place Sterling College.
The Bulldogs are looking for a tough road win at Tabor College before returning home on Saturday to face inter-county rival Bethany College. In their first meeting, the Swedes got the better of McPherson 81-78. Tipoff between the Bulldogs and Swedes is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. inside the McPherson Sport Center.
Scouting Tabor
Tabor comes into the midweek matchup with a 17-6 record and an 11-3 KCAC mark following a 36-34 win against Bethel College on Saturday. The Blue Jays hold a one game advantage over Sterling College for first place in the league. Despite their success, Tabor is yet to break the NAIA Top 25, currently ranking 32nd in the latest coaches’ poll. TC’s victory against the Threshers gives them wins in eight of their last nine games.
In the lowest scoring affair in league play this season, Tabor overcame 25.5 percent (12-of-47) from the field to defeat Bethel College. The Jays struggled mightily in the first half, scoring just four points in the opening 15 minutes of the period. However, TC would outscore Bethel 24-11 in the second period to earn the victory. Senior forward Damon Dechant led TC with nine points and was 5-of-7 from the free throw line.
The former All-KCAC first team member, Dechant paces the Tabor offense with 13.5 points per game on a team leading 54.4 field goal percentage. He missed three games in early January, including the Jays first meeting with McPherson College. Since returning to the lineup, Dechant is averaging 11.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest. He set a season high 29 points, including a perfect 7-of-7 effort from the free throw line, against Central Christian College on November 23.
Sophomore guard Lawson Kingsley has proved to be one of the most consistent guards in the conference. He ranks second on the team with 10.5 points per game and 42 assists, while leading the squad with an 81.5 percent free throw percentage.
As a team, Tabor poses one of the best defensive units in the NAIA. TC enters the game ranking in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense per game (61.4 points), field goal percentage defense (39.4 percent), turnover margin (3.30) and three-point field goal defense (29.4 percent), while leading the conference in steals per game with 9.3.
Tabor is led for fourth year head coach Micah Ratzlaff. Since taking over the Blue Jays, Ratzlaff has guided TC to a 39-47 record, including a 10-18 mark a year ago. Anthony Monson is the team’s assistant.
In their last meeting...
McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College men’s basketball team tried to rally after a last second Tabor three-pointer sent the game into overtime, but the Bulldogs could not overcome the Blue Jays to fall, 75-72, in the McPherson College Sport Center on Saturday night.
McPherson (8-9, 2-4) got off to a good start in the game as a pair of three-pointers from freshman guard Samson Shivers (Houston, Texas) propelled MC to a quick 21-8 lead, but Tabor (10-5, 4-2) answered back with a 9-0 run of their own to cut the Bulldogs lead to 35-34 at the end of the first half.
The Bulldogs ended the first period shooting 50.0 percent (10-of-20) from the field, while the Jays overcame a slow start to connect on 41.9 percent (13-of-31) of attempts from the floor. Junior forward Jordan Crawford (McPherson, Kan.) came off the bench to pace the MC offense with 10 first half points on 2-of-2 shooting from the floor and a perfect 5-of-5 from the foul line.
Tabor jumped in front to open the second period, but the Bulldogs answered with another run. McPherson outscored the Jays 17-6 over an eight minute stretch to take a 57-49 lead with 8:03 left in regulation. However, the Bulldogs only hit three field goals the rest of the period as TC chipped away at the MC lead.
Despite the drought, McPherson held a three-point lead with around 20 second remaining after Crawford converted a Tabor turnover. However, the Blue Jays would not be defeated as Kyle Wallace would connect on his only three-pointer of the night to tie the score, 63-63, at the end of regulation.
The Bulldogs would not overcome the momentum swing in the overtime period as the Jays outscored McPherson, 12-9, in the extra frame to earn the win.
McPherson ended the night shooting 40.7 percent (24-of-59) from the floor and 71.4 percent (15-of-21) from the foul line. Crawford finished the night with a team-high 16 points and seven rebounds, while Shivers chipped in 13 points. Shivers has scored in double figures in four straight games.
Tabor was led by Max Frise, who ended the contest with a game-high 17 points, while teammate Dylan Clark-Kaneable tallied a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds.
