Men's Basketball | 1/6/2012 3:13:00 PM
Game 18: No. 5 McPherson College (15-2, 4-1) at Friends University (7-10, 2-3)
Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012 | 7 p.m. | Garvey Center | Wichita, Kan.
Game Notes (PDF)
Live Video
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McPherson, Kan. - The No. 5 McPherson College men’s basketball team continues this week’s slate of road conference games, as the Bulldogs look to rebound against Friends University on Saturday, Jan. 7. Tip between McPherson and Friends is scheduled for 7 p.m. (CT) in Wichita, Kan.
Saturday’s game will be streamed live via the KCAC Broadcast Network, while radio coverage is provided by 96.7 FM KBBE MidKansas Radio. In addition, a live audio stream will be available on Macbulldogs.com.
McPherson enters the contest with a 15-2 overall record and 4-1 mark in league play following a disappointing loss at Southwestern College on Thursday night. The Bulldogs struggled from the field and at the free throw line throughout the contest, shooting a season low 32.8 percent (22-of-67) from the floor and 30.4 percent (7-of-23) at the foul line. Guard Aaron Frazier continued his stellar play despite the loss, leading MC with 16 points and 10 rebounds to post his first double-double of the season. Fellow guard Samson Shivers was the only other Bulldogs in double figures with 14 points.
Frazier’s effort against the Moundbuilders moves his closer to history, as he now rests just 46 points shy of 1,000 with 954 career points with the Bulldogs. On the season, Frazier leads McPherson at 16.8 points per game on 52.0 percent shooting from the field, while Shivers is second on the squad at 16.7 points per game.
Friends returns home winner of two of their last three en route to a 7-10 overall record and 2-3 mark in KCAC play. In their last game, the Falcons picked up a 62-51 road victory against Bethel College. FU’s other conference victory came on Dec. 8 when they defeated Bethany College, 70-61.
After the Falcons, McPherson returns home for a Thursday night matchup against Kansas Wesleyan University. The Coyotes enter the weekend losers of 10 straight, including five consecutive conference matches. Tipoff between the Bulldogs and Coyotes is scheduled for 8 p.m. (CT) at the Sport Center.
Scouting Friends
After a sluggish 1-5 start, Friends has rebounded to go 5-5 over their last 10 games, including winning two of their last three following a 62-51 victory at Bethel on Thursday. The Falcons currently rest in seventh place in the KCAC standing with a 7-10 overall record and 2-3 mark in league play. FU’s other conference victory came against Bethany College, 70-61, on Dec. 8.
Against Bethel, the Falcon offense came alive shooting 46.8 percent (22-of-47) from the field, 40.0 percent (6-of-15) from 3-point range and 75.0 percent (12-of-16) from the free throw line. Defensively, Coach Faber’s aggressive defensive schemes held BC to only 32.0 percent (16-of-50) from the floor. John Bridges paced the Falcons in scoring with 14 points, while tying a team-high with six rebounds despite fouling out after playing only 21 minutes.
On the season, Friends is averaging only 65.6 points per game despite shooting 40.9 percent from the field as a team. Rebounding has proven to be an issue for the Falcons as they average only 26.6 boards per game and own a -10.6 rebound margin on the season.
Reggie Britton leads three Falcons averaging double-digits with a 16.6 points per game average, while shooting an impressive 48.5 percent from beyond the arc. Britton has scored in double figures 13 times, including a season-high 32 points in FU’s win against Bethany. Despite his consistent scoring, Britton has been held to only three points and 10 percent shooting over his last two games.
Other Falcons averaging double figures include Joseph Wakefield at 12.1 points per game and Bridges at 10.1 points per game.
After McPherson, Friends hits the road next week for games at Tabor and Kansas Wesleyan University.
In their last meeting...
McPherson, Kan. (02/03/11) – Aaron Frazier (McPherson, Kan.), Samson Shivers (Houston, Texas) and Jordan Crawford (McPherson, Kan.) combined for 27 of McPherson’s 40 second half points as the Bulldogs won their fifth straight, 69-54, against Friends University Thursday night.
The victory improves the Bulldogs to 12-11 overall and 7-6 in KCAC play, while the Falcons fall to 9-15 and 6-7 in league action.
Trailing 42-40 with 12:24 remaining, McPherson leading scorer Shivers sparked the Bulldog offense to a 16-3 run that gave MC the lead for good. Shivers scored nine of his 12 points during the run, including back-to-back three pointers leading to a Falcon timeout. Friends would attempt to answer with a 10-2 run of their own to pull within four, 58-54, but the Bulldogs were too strong down the stretch.
Frazier finished the evening with a game-high 19 points on 5-of-6 shooting from beyond the three-point line, including McPherson’s first three baskets of the contest. Shivers added 12 points, while Crawford tallied 11 points and a team-leading nine rebounds in the effort.
Friends opened the game with a quick 5-0 lead following a Reggie Britton three and Brett Steven layup, but McPherson would hang close after a pair of Frazier three-pointers. The Bulldogs trailed until Crawford connected on a three-pointer of his own to knot the score, 17-17, with 6:54 remaining in the period. Both teams would trade baskets the rest of the period, as McPherson would enter the locker room with a 29-27 advantage.
The Bulldogs ended the period shooting 40.0 percent (10-of-25) from the floor, including 47.4 percent (9-of-19) from beyond the three-point line. Frazier paced the MC offense with 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting. All four of Frazier’s baskets were three-pointers.
Despite the slight MC lead, Friends came out of the break as the aggressor with an 8-0 run, including six point from Britton to take a 35-31 lead with 16:45 left. The two teams would trade scorers over the next six minutes, before MC’s run put the game out of reach for the Falcons.
The Bulldogs ended the night shooting 43.3 percent (23-of-53) from the field, including a near season-best 41.4 percent (12-of-29) from beyond the arch. MC’s 12 three-pointers were just three behind the program record and marks the most scored this season.
McPherson also out-rebounded the Falcons, 36-32, while forcing 13 FU turnovers.
Friends shot a respectable 40.0 percent (20-of-50) from the field and were led in scoring by Britton, who tallied 13 points in the loss.
