Men's Basketball | 1/13/2012 2:45:00 PM
Game 20: No. 6 McPherson College (17-2, 6-1) vs. Ottawa University (6-11, 3-4)
Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012 | 7 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 team looks for its third straight win Saturday night, as the Bulldogs host Ottawa University at the McPherson College Sport Center. Tipoff for the contest is scheduled for 7 p.m. (CT).
Saturday’s game will be streamed live on the KCAC Broadcast Network and at Macbulldogs.com. Audio coverage is available by tuning into 96.7 FM KBBE MidKansas Radio or online at Macbulldogs.com.
The Bulldogs, who enter the weekend 17-2 overall and 6-1 in the KCAC, have successfully bounced back from their loss at Southwestern with two straight victories, including a 79-52 thrashing of Kansas Wesleyan University on Thursday night.
Against the Coyotes, the two sides battled through the opening 20 minutes, including three ties and eight lead changes, with McPherson holding a 36-29 advantage at the break. The Bulldogs seized complete control of the game in the second half, posting a 24-8 run over the opening 10 minutes to take a 60-39 lead. Kansas Wesleyan would come no closer than 19 point the remainder of the contest.
Jordan Crawford (McPherson, Kan.) posted his team leading fifth double-double of the season with 14 point and 11 rebounds, while
Aaron Frazier (McPherson, Kan.) inched closer to the 1,000 point plateau with a game-high 18 points. He now sits with 985 career points, only 15 points short of becoming the 16th Bulldog in program history to reach 1,000 points.
In addition to Crawford and Fraizer,
Kasey Miller (Derby, Kan.) scored a near season-high 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting, including 2-for-4 from beyond the arc off the bench for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs are facing an Ottawa team that is struggling of late. The Braves are 6-11 on the season and have dropped four straight following a 91-86 loss to No. 16 Southwestern on Thursday evening. Despite their record, Ottawa is a talented team that before the holiday break was 3-1 in KCAC action, including wins at Friends and at Bethany.
After Ottawa, McPherson travels the Bethany College on Wednesday, Jan. 18. Tip is currently scheduled for 8 p.m. (CT).
Scouting Ottawa
The Braves come into Saturday’s game with a 6-11 record and 3-4 mark in KCAC play following a 91-86 loss against No. 13 Southwestern College on Thursday evening. Ottawa, who prior to the holiday break was 3-1 in KCAC play with victories at Friends and at Bethany, is currently riding a season-high four game losing streak.
Against Southwestern, Ottawa struggled from the field, shooting 39.8 percent (33-of-83) from the floor, including a 3-for-15 (20.0 percent) effort from 3-point range. On the positive side, the Braves defense forced 18 Builder turnovers, but was outrebounded, 54-40. Stephen Feighny paced the OU offense with a season-high 20 points, while adding seven rebounds and one steal in the effort.
The Braves feature one of the conference’s best forwards in Corey Smith. He entered the week ranking amongst the top six in the KCAC in scoring (16.7), field goal percentage (47.4), free throw percentage (80.4) and total rebounds (7.38). Smith, a native of Burlington, Kan., owns 15 double-digit scoring games, including a streak of 12 straight. He posted a season-best 32 points behind a 10-for-18 effort from the field, while converting 11-for-12 free throws against Oklahoma Wesleyan on Nov. 5. He also leads the team with four double-doubles on the year.
Other notable scorers for the Braves include Chase Dippel and Larry Barber. Dippel is second on the team at 13.9 points per game, while leading the squad with 45 3-pointers. Barber is third with 10.1 points per game.
As a team, Ottawa averages 75.5 points per game on 43.2 percent shooting from the field, including a 34.3 percent success rate from beyond the arc. Ball handling has been an issue at times for OU, who enters Saturday averaging 17.4 turnovers per contest.
After McPherson, Ottawa travels to Kansas Wesleyan University on Wednesday, Jan. 18.
In their last meeting...
McPherson, Kan. (01/27/11) – The Bulldogs shot a season-best 51.4 percent from the floor, including a 61.1 percent success rate in the second period to cruise to an 81-48 victory over Ottawa University Thursday night at the McPherson Sport Center.
The victory improved McPherson to 11-11 on the season and 5-6 in league play, while the Braves fall to 6-15 overall and 3-8 in the KCAC.
Four Bulldogs ended the night in double figures led by sophomore forward Mason Hewitt (Norwich, Kan.), who tallied a career-high 18 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the field, while fellow front court mate Jordan Crawford (McPherson, Kan.) registered his third double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Senior guard Trent Severs (Inman, Kan.) set a career-best with 10 assists, including six in the second half.
A pair of Chase Dippel three-pointers sparked a 12-3 OU run to open the contest, but the Braves success was short lived as the Bulldogs scored on back-to-back possessions, including a Samson Shivers three-pointer to cut the deficit to 12-9 with 14:05 left. Ottawa would add a pair of free throws before the Bulldogs blew the game open with a 16-4 run to take a 25-18 lead at the 3:38 mark of the first period. Hewitt tallied eight of MC’s 16 points during the stretch.
The two sides traded scores into the break with McPherson holding a 33-24 advantage. The Bulldogs shot a respectable 41.2 percent (14-of-34) from the field, but were just 2-of-11 from beyond the arc. Despite their struggles from long range, MC outscored the Braves, 24-12, over the final 14 minutes of the half. Hewitt led the Bulldogs with 10 first half points.
Much like the first period, Ottawa would jump out early with a pair of baskets to cut McPherson’s lead down to seven, 35-23, but it was all Bulldogs from that point on as McPherson outscored Ottawa 48-24 in the period en route to the 33-point victory.
In the second half, McPherson shot 61.1 percent (22-of-36) from the field, while holding OU to just 36.0 percent (9-of-25).
For the game, the Bulldogs defense forced 19 OU turnovers, as MC tallied 24 points off turnovers. The Braves were held to just 31.5 percent (17-of-54) shooting from the field. Dippel, who entered the game as OU’s leading scorer with a 14.5 points per game average, was held to a near season low six points.
Corey Tate led Ottawa in scoring with 12 points.
McPherson returns to action on Saturday, January 29 when they travel to Bethel College. Tipoff between the Bulldogs and Threshers is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. inside Thresher Gymnasium.
