Men's Basketball | 1/4/2012 11:25:00 AM
Game 17: No. 5 McPherson College (15-1, 4-0) at RV Southwestern College (13-2, 3-1)
Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012 | 8 p.m. (CT) | Stewart Field House | Winfield, Kan.
Game Notes (PDF)
Live Video
Live Audio
Live Stats
McPherson, Kan. - The fifth ranked Bulldogs take their five game winning streak on the road to re-open conference action, as the McPherson College men’s basketball team travel to RV Southwestern College. Tip off between the Bulldogs and Moundbuilders is scheduled for 8 p.m. inside Stewart Field House in Winfield, Kan.
The contest will be streamed live via the KCAC Broadcast Network, while radio coverage in the McPherson area is provided by 96.7 FM KBBE MidKansas Radio. In addition, an audio stream will be available at Macbulldogs.com.
The Bulldogs enter the contest with a 15-1 record (3-1 KCAC) following a 91-67 victory against York College (Neb.) on Monday night. McPherson finished the contest shooting 50.7 percent (34-of-67) from the field, including a 62.1 percent (18-of-29) effort in the first half. Guard
Aaron Frazier (McPherson, Kan.) led five Bulldogs in double figures with 24 points, while forward
Jordan Crawford (McPherson, Kan.) combined a game-high 10 rebounds with 14 points for his fourth double-double of the season.
Frazier, despite having to sit out a game earlier this season, is tied for the team scoring lead with guard
Samson Shivers (Houston, Texas) as both players enter Thursday averaging 16.9 points per game. In addition, Frazier’s 254 points on the season put him at 938 for his career, only 62 points shy of becoming the 16th player in team history to score at least 1,000 career points. In addition to scoring, he provides an all-around threat for the Bulldogs, ranking sixth nationally in total steals (38), while leading the team with 13 blocked shots.
Overall, McPherson leads the KCAC in scoring defense (68.1), field goal percentage defense (.394), rebounding (42.9 per game) and turnover margin (5.2), while ranking second in the league in scoring offense (82.0), scoring margin (13.9), rebound margin (5.4) and steals (8.6 per game).
Southwestern, who was picked eighth in the KCAC preseason coaches’ poll, enters Thursday with a 13-2 overall record and 3-1 mark in league action. The Builders have won nine of their last 10 games, including three straight victories against Saint Mary (69-63), Friends (82-67) and Grace College (95-80).
After Southwestern, McPherson travels to Wichita, Kan. for a Saturday night contest against Friends. Tipoff is currently scheduled for 7 p.m. inside the Garvey Center.
Scouting Southwestern
Southwestern, who was picked fifth and eighth in the KCAC preseason polls, is one of the major surprises in the KCAC this season, as the Moundbuilders enter Thursday with a 13-2 overall record, including a 3-1 mark in the league. SWC has won nine of their last 10, including three straight following a 95-80 win against Grace Bible College on Monday afternoon. The Builders only losses during the season came against Haskell Indian Nations (Kan.) (59-66) and at Sterling (74-81).
Against Grace, the Builders shot greater than 50 percent from the field for the eighth time this season, converting 58.6 percent (34-of-58) of attempts. Forward Ethan Randolph - a first team All-KCAC selection a year ago - tied a season-high with 29 points on 12-of-18 shooting to lead the squad, while fellow forward Koury Clayton was second with 21 points.
Overall, Southwestern leads the conference in scoring offense (83.8 points per game), scoring margin (14.9), field goal percentage (50.7 percent), rebound margin (11.5) and assists per game (17.2). Additionally, the Builders own four games of 100-plus points, including a season-high 116 points against Baptist Bible College on Nov. 17.
Randolph, who transferred from Rend Lake College in Ina, Ill. prior to the 2010-11 season, ranks 13th nationally in points per game with a 20.7 average. He has scored in double-digits in all, but one game this season, including nine 20-point performances. Additionally, Randolph leads the team with 7.6 rebounds per game and posted a season-high 13 boards against Manhattan Christian (Kan.) on Nov. 3 and against Haskell on Nov. 7.
Other key offensive contributors for the Builders include Clayton and forward Chris Nelson. Clayton is second on the team at 13.9 points per game, while Nelson owns a 10.3 points per game average and leads the team with five blocked shots.
After McPherson, Southwestern remains home for a weekend matchup against Kansas Wesleyan University. Tipoff against the Coyotes is scheduled for 7 p.m. (CT).
In their last meeting...
McPherson, Kan. (02/23/11) – The Bulldogs scored 47 second half points, as the McPherson College men’s basketball team defeated Southwestern College, 83-68, Wednesday night in the quarterfinal round of the KCAC tournament. The victory advances the Bulldogs into the semifinal round for the first time since the 2008 season.
Freshman guard Samson Shivers (Houston, Texas) reached double figures for the 21st time this season, as he scored a game-high 22 points, 18 in the second period, on 5-of-11 shooting and a 10-for-12 performance from the free throw line. Along with scoring, Shivers fell just one rebound shy of his season-best with seven boards.
Fellow backcourt mate, Aaron Frazier (McPherson, Kan.) posted 21 points, eight rebounds and two blocks on the night.
The two sides went back and forth in the opening 20 minutes as McPherson went into the break with a 36-33 advantage. The Bulldogs went on a 7-0 run, capped by a Trent Severs (Inman, Kan.) 3-pointer, to extend its lead out to 28-21 with 6:59 remaining in the opening half. However, Southwestern would not go away. The Builders used a pair of 3-point baskets and a 4-for-4 effort from the charity stripe to but MC’s lead to three at the break.
Both teams shot better than 44 percent, as McPherson converted 44.8 percent of attempts from the floor, while Southwestern hit 46.4 percent. However, the Bulldogs outscored Southwestern off turnovers, 13-2.
McPherson turned up the intensity to start to second period, as the Bulldogs rattled off an 11-5 run to push their advantage to nine, 50-41, with 15:18 remaining. Shivers opened the run with a 4-point play, before capping it with an alley-oop from Severs.
Southwestern cut the deficit to five following a Ethan Randolph 3-point basket, but another run by McPherson put the game at 63-49 with 8:30 left in regulation. The Bulldogs outscored Southwestern, 13-4, during the stretch, including a pair of back-to-back three’s from Shivers.
From this point on Southwestern began sending McPherson to the free throw line to attempt to slow down the run-and-gun Bulldog offense. Despite only shooting 59.5 percent (25-of-42) from the free throw line, MC proved too strong down the stretch, as the Moundbuilders would pull no closer than 11 points the rest of the way.
For the night, McPherson out-rebounded Southwestern, 44-36, while outscoring the Builders, 20-2, off turnovers.
Southwestern forwards Chris Nelson and Ethan Randolph each scored 12 points in the effort.
