Men's Basketball | 1/5/2012 11:58:00 PM
Box Score Box Score
Winfield, Kan. – Offensive struggles plagued the No. 5 McPherson College men’s basketball team throughout the evening, as the Bulldogs suffered their first Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference loss of the season, 78-58, at Southwestern College on Thursday night at Stewart Field House.
McPherson, who falls to 15-2 overall and 4-1 in KCAC action with the loss, ended the contest shooting a season-low 32.8 percent (22-of-67) from the field, including only an 11-for-26 effort in the second half. Additionally, the Bulldogs converted only 7-of-23 (30.4 percent) free throw attempts, a category in which they entered the night leading the KCAC at 70.5 percent.
Individually, Aaron Frazier recorded his first double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Samson Shivers added 14 points and six rebounds in the effort.
The Bulldogs held a 24-20 advantage at the 6:04 mark of the first half following an Adam Bruner layup, but it proved short lived as the Builders would go on a 26-3 run spanning the remainder of the first half and the first seven minutes of the second to claim a 46-27 lead.
Chris Crawford ended the stretch with a powerful two-handed dunk to cut the deficit to 17, but proved unable to swing the momentum, as SC answered moments later with a hook shot by Ethan Randolph. Late in the second period, McPherson instituted a foul oriented style defense, but Southwestern converted 9-of-12 free throws down the stretch en route to the victory.
Southwestern ended the contest shooting 42.2 percent (27-of-64) from the field, 31.3 percent from 3-point range (5-of-16) and 73.1 percent (19-of-26) at the free throw line. In addition, SC held a 50-42 advantage in rebounding, while forcing 14 McPherson turnovers.
James Davis paced the Moundbuilders in scoring with 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while R.J. Jarrett posted 16 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.
McPherson returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 7 when they travel to Friends University. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside the Garvey Center.
