Men's Basketball | 12/7/2013 9:40:00 PM
Box Score
Leavenworth, Kan. – A few bad minutes spelt disaster for Bulldog basketball on Saturday as they dropped a tough 93-80 contest to the University of Saint Mary Spires. Mac moves to 7-5 on the year with a 1-1 record against KCAC foes.
It was a tight first half between the Spires and McPherson as the two were never more than a couple buckets apart. MC held a slight advantage for most of the first period but could not get ahead by more than six. Despite getting Saint Mary in foul trouble early, the Bulldogs failed to take full advantage and allowed USM to hang around. After 20 minutes of good basketball, the Spires drained a three-point basket in the final minute to go into the locker room ahead 43-40.
In the opening half, the 'Dogs knocked in 13-of-32 with a couple three balls but made their waves from the foul line, hitting 12-of-18. Saint Mary drained four more shots than Mac while taking two less but only connected on 1-of-5 from the charity stripe; an 8-of-17 showing from long range kept the Spires in the game. The starting big men for McPherson,
Devirous Johnson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and
Joey Powers (Welch, Okla.), scored 23 combined points on 9-of-15, taking advantage of the height and foul troubles of USM.
Saint Mary held off the Bulldogs for the first five minutes of the second period but couldn't contain them any longer as an 8-0 run by MC put them back in front. USM was not about to go down easy on their home court and scored 18 of the next 21 points in a seven minute stretch to take a 15-point lead with 5:53 remaining. Mac attempted to climb back into it but couldn't manage to get their deficit back to single figures. The clock struck zeros with the home team winning 93-80.
In the second half, McPherson made 15-of-31 (48.4%) from the floor but continued to struggle from deep, going 1-of-6; they converted on 9-of-14 from the stripe. USM connected on 13-of-27 and continued to make their threes, knocking in 6-of-11; they also did a solid job of making their foul shots as 18-of-23 fell.
Bulldog basketball ended the night making 44.4 percent from the field as 28-of-63 went through the net; they hit 3-of-15 from deep and 21-of-32 foul shots. 40 rebounds, 16 offensive, were tabulated by MC as were 15 assists. They turned the ball over 16 times and stole back four while forcing 13 TOs of Saint Mary. 59 of McPherson's total were scored in the paint.
Johnson scored a team-high 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting with 4-of-6 free throws; he also tabbed 12 rebounds for another double-double. Powers bucketed 19 with 8-of-13 field goals going through as well as both his free throws; he was one board away from hitting double figures.
Samson Shivers (Houston, Texas) connected on 5-of-12 from the field and 4-of-5 from the stripe for his 16 while
Brian (BJ) Johnson (Kansas City, Kan.) scored 10 with four field goals and two from the line; B. Johnson also had a team-high seven assists and logged nine rebounds.
TJ Grant (South Bend, Ind.) scored all seven of his free throws and one field goal for nine points.
McPherson now has a pair of home conference games to finish up 2013; they face Sterling College on December 12
th at 8:00 p.m. (CT) and Friends University on the 14
th.
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