Men's Basketball | 1/10/2012 3:07:00 PM
Game 19: No. 6 McPherson College (16-2, 5-1) vs. Kansas Wesleyan University (2-15, 0-6)
Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012 | 8 p.m. (CT) | McPherson Sport Center | McPherson, Kan.
Game Notes (PDF)
Live Video
Live Audio
Live Stats
McPherson, Kan. - The No. 6 McPherson College men’s basketball teams returns home after an up-and-down week this Thursday, Jan. 12, as the Bulldogs host Kansas Wesleyan University. Tipoff between the Bulldogs and Coyotes at the McPherson Sport Center is set for 8 p.m. (CT).
The midweek matchup will be streamed live via the KCAC Broadcast Network and on Macbulldogs.com with an audio stream provided as well. Listeners in the McPherson area can tune into 96.7 FM KBBE MidKansas Radio to hear additional coverage.
McPherson enters the week with a 16-2 overall record and 5-1 mark in KCAC action following a 64-62 victory at Friends University on Saturday. Prior to Friends, the Bulldogs lost their first conference game at Southwestern 78-58, snapping a five-game winning streak. Despite the loss, the Bulldogs dropped only one spot to No. 6 in the latest NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll.
Against Friends, McPherson shot 41.8 percent (23-of-55) from the field, while outrebounding the Falcons, 50-29. However, Friends forced MC into 16 turnovers and scored 36 points on 3-pointers to keep the game close. Sophomore guard
Samson Shivers (Houston, Texas) led the offense with 15 points, while senior guard
Aaron Frazier (McPherson, Kan.) added 13 points and senior forward
Chris Crawford (McPherson, Kan.) posted his first double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
On the season, the Bulldogs continue to be one of the top defensive and rebounding teams in the nation, ranking amongst the top 15 nationally in defensive rebounding per game (30.6), total rebounding (779), field goal percentage defense (0.392), total rebounding per game (43.3), and turnover margin (4.1).
Individually, Frazier and Shivers are averaging 16.6 points per game to lead the squad. Frazier’s performance against Friends puts him just 33 points shy of 1,000 with 967 career points.
Kansas Wesleyan comes into the week on the opposite side of the spectrum from the Bulldogs, as the Coyotes are 2-15 overall and 0-6 in conference play. KWU’s last victory came on Nov. 15 when they defeated Peru State (Neb.), 98-84.
Following KWU, McPherson remains home for a weekend game against Ottawa University. Tip is scheduled for 5 p.m. (CT) inside the McPherson Sport Center.
Scouting Kansas Wesleyan
Kansas Wesleyan comes into Thursday riding an 11-game losing streak following an 88-84 loss at Southwestern on Saturday. With the loss, the Coyotes fell to 2-15 overall and 0-6 in KCAC play. KWU’s last victory came against Peru State (Neb.), 98-84, on Nov. 15.
Against Southwestern, Kansas Wesleyan shot 47.3 percent (35-of-74) from the floor, but struggled at the foul line, converting only 63.6 percent (7-of-11) attempts. Defensively, KWU forced 19 Builder turnovers, but the aggressive SWC offensive attack proved too much down the stretch. Junior guard Dylan Briscoe tied a season-high with 19 points, while sophomore forward Krubiel Workie added 14 points in the effort.
On the season, the Coyotes are averaging 68.7 points per game while shooting 37.2 percent from the floor as a team. Opponents enter the week outscoring Kansas Wesleyan by 21 points, while holding a 9.5 advantage in rebounding and 1.8 edge in turnovers.
Briscoe leads the team with 11.1 points per game, including a team-best 40 3-pointers and a 35.4 percent success rate from beyond the arc. He owns 10 double figure scoring games and is averaging 16.3 points per game over his last three contests.
Junior guard Keon Jones is second on the team in scoring with 10.6 points per game, but has not played since Dec. 10 against Sterling.
In their last meeting...
Salina, Kan. (01/22/11) – The Bulldogs opened the extra frame with three consecutive three-point plays en route to an 83-75 overtime victory at Kansas Wesleyan Saturday night. The victory is the second overtime win in a row and improves MC to 3-1 overtime contests.
The win improves McPherson to 10-11 overall and 4-6 in conference play, while the Coyotes fall to 7-13 and 4-6 in league action.
The Coyotes controlled the tempo for a majority of the first half, including a 13-0 run late in the period to give KWU a 35-17 lead with 3:32 remaining. A pair of McPherson three-point baskets from Kasey Miller (Derby, Kan.) and Aaron Frazier (McPherson, Kan.) brought MC back within 12, 36-24, at the intermission.
McPherson struggled offensively in the first half, shooting only 29.2 percent (7-of-24) from the floor and were out-rebounded, 24-14. Kansas Wesleyan received 16 of their 36 first half points off the bench.
McPherson finally caught fire three minutes into the second half as MC used a 20-8 run to knot the score at 49-49 with 8:32 left in regulation. The run was sparked by a four-point play by Samson Shivers (Houston, Texas) and capped by an old-fashioned three-point play by Frazier.
After trading baskets for the next four minutes, Frazier converted a runner in the lane to give MC its first lead of the night, 55-53. The Bulldogs clung to the lead for a remainder of the period until Kansas Wesleyan tied the score with three late free throws.
MC had a final chance to win in regulation, but Shivers off-balance three-point attempt went wide.
However, the overtime period was all Bulldogs, as MC connected on 5-of-5 attempts from the field and 8-of-10 trips to the foul line. The period opened with three consecutive three-point plays by the Bulldogs. MC’s defense was relentless during the period holding KWU to just 3-of-11 shooting from the field.
For the game, McPherson shot 45.0 percent (27-of-60) from the field, 35.7 percent (10-of-28) from three-point range and 65.5 percent (19-of-29) from the charity stripe. Shivers led all scorers with a season-high 25 points to lead four Bulldogs in double figures. With the effort, Shivers has scored at least 20 points in three of McPherson’s last four games. Other Bulldogs in double figures include Frazier with 19, Mason Hewitt (Norwich, Kan.) with 15 and Jordan Crawford (McPherson, Kan.) with 11.
Coyote guard Matt Dickman led KWU with 23 points off the bench, while Brandon Flax tallied 14 points in the loss. Kansas Wesleyan turned the ball over 20 times, but held a 54-37 advantage on the boards. As a team, KWU shot 35.3 percent (24-of-68) from the field and 62.5 percent (20-of-32) from the free throw line.
