Men's Basketball | 1/14/2013 4:43:00 PM
Game Notes
Live Audio
Live Video
Live Stats
McPherson, Kan. – The final stop for McPherson in their first go-around with KCAC foes is North Newton, Kansas where the Bethel College Threshers await in Thresher Gym; the contest is set to begin at 8:00 p.m. (CT) on January 16th.
The game will be broadcasted live in the McPherson area on 96.7 FM KBBE Mid-Kansas Radio and at Macbulldogs.com with Nick Gosnell on the call with former McPherson basketball coach Roger Trimmell doing the color commentary. Steve Sell will join the broadcast with halftime and postgame insight and analysis. You can also watch the game via ihigh.com/macbulldogs. All links to live game statistics, audio or video can be found at Macbulldogs.com
A near win was the last game for Mac as they hosted the Sterling College Warriors this past Saturday. SC got up early on the Bulldogs as MC struggled to get any offense going in the first few minutes; the Warriors were up by as many as 10 before they were half way to the half way mark of the first period. MC found themselves in a 20-point hole as time expired in the game’s first 20 minutes, mostly thanks to a 19.4 shooting percentage; the scoreboard showed 37-17 in favor of the visitor team at halftime.
McPherson came to life in the second period, scrapping for every bucket and climbing back into the game. The Bulldogs got within six points by the mid-way mark through the half pushing Sterling back on to their heels. The Warriors extended their lead back to double-digits but another run by MC got their deficit to two points with just over three minutes left. SC held the advantage, answering every make of the Bulldog offense with one of their own. The Warriors made just enough of their free throws down the stretch to hold off Mac, winning 66-61.
MC was 23-of-65 from the floor for the game and converted on 7-of-27 from distance; they shot right around their season average from the charity stripe, making 8-of-12. The Warriors improved their season average from the field, making 45.5 percent of their shots and also hit seven three pointers; a poor night from the free throw line, 9-of-18, was logged by SC. The Bulldogs were slightly outrebounded by Sterling as the Warriors pulled down 42 boards to MC’s 37.
Sampson Shivers was his old self in the second half, scoring all of his 16 points; he ended the contest 6-of-16 from the floor, 4-of-11 from downtown and 0-of-1 from the stripe. Hill closed out the game with 15 points and a team-high nine rebounds; he was 6-of-10 from the field and 3-of-4 from the free throw line. Hewitt was the final Bulldog in double figures scoring as he bucketed 11 points. Adam Bruner tallied a game-high five steals to go along with his nine points.
The Bulldogs will face Bethany College for the second time this season on January 19th in the McPherson Sport Center with tipoff set for 7:00 p.m. (CT)
Scouting Bethel
This has been a difficult season for the Threshers as they are 2-17 for the season and 0-8 in the KCAC. They averaged 102 points in their two wins but are having a difficult time making it over 70 points in their losses. The last victory was on December 17th and since, BC has lost five-straight. A 99-87 defeat to the Moundbuilders of Southwestern came on January 12th.
Bethel shot a more than respectable 47.9% from the field, cashing in on 35-of-73, and were 8-of-23 from behind the three-point line; a depressing 9-of-20 attempts were made from the charity stripe, potentially being the game-changer. Southwestern went nuts in their home gym, draining 32-of-56 for a 57.1 percent field goal percentage; they hit an unbelievable 55.6% from behind the arc and converted on 25-of-40 from the stripe. BC forced 15 Builder turnovers and tallied 11 steals.
The Threshers were led in scoring by Adam Arciniega who had a game-high 24 points coming on 10-of-14 from two-point land and 4-of-8 from the free throw line; he also ripped down 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the year. Lee Griffin was right behind Arciniega, making 9-of-13 from the field including 3-of-4 from deep along with a single free throw for 22 points. John Watson III came off the bench and shot a perfect 3-of-3 from the floor with two bombs from downtown for eight points.
BC is scoring 73.5 points a contest and makes 42.4% of their attempts from the field; they are giving up a KCAC worst 85.2 points to their opponents. A conference low 5.5 three pointers are averaged by the Threshers per game with a three-point shooting percentage of 31.4. Just 35.9 rebounds are hulled in by Bethel and they are getting outrebounded by over five each time out. The team throws the ball away an average of 16.3 times per contest and steals back just over seven. Their 54 total blocks is the highest in the league.
15.3 points a contest are tallied by Arciniega, leading the team and placing him fourth in the KCAC; he has made 112 field goals this season, making a conference fourth best 47.1% of his shots and also leads the Threshers in rebounds per game with 7.5. Ronnie Hodge is putting in 12.3 points each time he hits the court with the majority of his buckets coming from deep as he’s made 42 three pointers. Lee Griffin has been averaging 12.1 points per game and leads the team in free throws, making 42 total for the season.
Bethel will go to Leavenworth, Kansas to face the Spires of the University of Saint Mary on January 19th.
