Men's Basketball | 10/29/2013 11:59:00 PM
Box Score
Lawrence, Kan. – 2013-14 started with a bang for Bulldog basketball as Mac claimed a 75-74 victory over Haskell Indian Nations on a last-second baby hook by senior
Devirous Johnson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) with under two seconds left on the clock.
The saying is that basketball is a game of runs and Tuesday's matchup between the Fightin' Indians and McPherson proved that. MC started the contest with an upbeat style of play that rewarded them with a 17-5 advantage less than five minutes into the game. Thinking that things were in the bag, Mac took their foot off the gas; HINU took full advantage and pulled within one point five minutes later. The 'Dogs kept their slim lead until the final five of the half when Haskell leap-frogged to take a 38-35 lead into the locker room.
Samson Shivers (Houston, Texas) and
Brian (BJ) Johnson (Kansas City, Kan.) had big first halves for Mac scoring 10 and eight, respectively; Johnson recorded three of the first four assists of the game while shivers converted on 2-of-3 from deep. While Shiver made his three balls, the rest of the team did not as the other seven players who attempted a three pointer were 1-of-12; MC also struggled from the stripe, making just 4-of-11, with Shivers having two of those as well.
After halftime, the two teams again stayed close as the largest lead was eight, coming to Haskell; there were nine lead changes in the final 20 minutes of play. The last half of the second half was mainly controlled by the Indians who were using their height to get buckets around the basket.
McPherson stuck within a handful until they were finally able to take the lead again at the three-minute mark. The two traded leads with HINU holding a one-point advantage with 1:39 to play. A Bulldog turnover and foul put Haskell on the line with a chance to extend their lead to three. They would miss the front end of a 1-and-1 giving Mac the ball with 18 to play. Following a miss by MC, a jump-ball on the rebound gave the 'Dogs a second chance. This time, D. Johnson put his back to the rim and on a right-handed baby hook gave McPherson the lead with 1.6 remaining. An errant thrown by HINU put the ball back in the Bulldogs hands which they gladly took and ran out the clock, finalizing the 75-74 win.
Mac hit on 14-of-29 from the floor in the second half but was just 1-of-7 from long range. McPherson was able to make 11 of their 12 free throws, giving them a chance down the stretch. Haskell, with two players over 6-8, pulled down two more rebounds than MC as the 'Dogs totaled 40. The Bulldog defense recorded 10 steals and forced 16 turnovers; McPherson would score 23 points off those TOs. The bench for Mac netted just seven points while 53 of their total were scored in the paint.
B. Johnson led the way for four double-digit Bulldogs with his 17 on 6-of-12 shooting; he also led the team in assists with six and tallied eight boards. Shivers (4-of-9 with 6-of-6 free throws) and D. Johnson (7-of-15 with a pair from the stripe) each netted 16 points while
Joey Powers (5-of-11 with one from the stripe) scored 11; D. Johnson was one rebound shy of a double-double.
McPherson gets a nice two-game home stand for their next competitions; the 'Dogs host Johnson and Wales University on November 2
nd at 8:00 p.m. (CT) and Manhattan Christian College on November 5
th at 7:00 p.m.
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