Men's Basketball | 2/18/2013 11:48:00 AM
Game Notes
Live Video
Live Stats
McPherson, Kan. – MC men’s basketball has one path to make it four-straight trips to the NAIA National Championships, win the KCAC Postseason Tournament. The journey starts in Leavenworth, Kansas where the University of Saint Mary Spires, the KCAC’s top team, awaits the ‘Dogs for a 7:00 p.m. (CT) tipoff on February 22nd.
The contest will be broadcasted live in the McPherson area on 96.7 FM KBBE Mid-Kansas Radio and on the world wide web at Macbulldogs.com with Nick Gosnell on the call with Steve Sell providing the color commentary for the broadcast. 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
Mac is coming off a much needed overtime victory against the Bethel College Threshers. BC came out strong in the first half of Saturday’s matchup; they never got up by more than a few but did a good job of staying on top for the first 10 minutes. McPherson, tired of riding in the backseat, put a few baskets together and took the lead midway through the period; the Bulldogs would stay ahead for the remainder of the half with a seven-point advantage being the peak of their lead. As the halftime buzzer sounded, MC was up 34-31.
The second period started with Bethel jumping back in front; the teams would trade baskets for the next few minutes until BC went on a 13-0 run, getting ahead 56-43 with just over 12 minutes left. A few possessions later, Mac started to pick away at the Thresher lead, slowly getting closer and closer; they would tie the game at 71 with 41 seconds left in regulation. MC used the enthusiasm of the home crowd to energize their comeback. A missed basket by the Threshers gave McPherson the ball with six seconds to play. A wayward pass by the Bulldogs allowed Bethel a chance to win things in regulation but a three-ball went long, forcing overtime.
In the game’s extra period, the ‘Dogs had their way with BC, scoring the first 11 points and holding the Threshers scoreless for their first four minutes of OT. Bethel scored a few trash baskets in the final few seconds but it was too little, too late as Mac’s lead was enough to give them an 83-78 victory.
The Bulldogs closed out Senior Night with a 42.9 shooting percentage, nailing 27-of-63 with five makes from deep; they were able to bucket 24-of-29 free throws in the win. Bethel made 39% of their season-high 77 attempts but only had two three pointers find their way to the bottom of the net; 16-of-20 free throws were tallied by BC. Mac, led by two players with double-digit boards, outrebounded BC 46-42 but gave up 13 offensive rebounds to Bethel. 14 turnovers were committed by the Threshers; McPherson stole eight of those away. The ‘Dogs totaled 16 assists while BC had a difficult time distributing the ball, tallying only three dimes. 46 points were logged by the bench play of MC as a few key players entered the game after the tip due to it being Senior Night.
Adam Bruner, one of those bench players, led the team with 21 points coming on 5-of-15 from the floor and 11-of-13 from the charity stripe; he also had a team-high seven assists. Senior Kasey Miller scored 14, seeing 5-of-8 field goals fall along with both his free throw attempts. Joey Powers and Sampson Shivers scored 13 and 12 points respectively. Jake Reinhardt, in his final game in McPherson, recorded another double-double, scoring 10 points and bringing down 15 rebounds. Devirous Johnson also totaled double figures on the glass, hauling in 12 rebounds; he was one bucket away from his own double-double as he scored eight.
The winner of the matchup between MC and Saint Mary will take on the victor of the No. 4 Friends University vs. No. 5 Bethany College competition. The second round game will be held on February 23 at 2:00 p.m. (CT) at the higher seed’s house.
Scouting Saint Mary
USM is the KCAC’s best team by record as they went 16-2 in the conference and had a 22-7 overall record for the regular season. The team’s two KCAC losses came in the second go-around of league play; they lost a blowout at Sterling College a month ago and a close two-point contest at Tabor a couple of weeks back. They have won two-straight by a combined total 27 points, giving them some confidence heading into the tournament.
An 86-74 home victory over the Southwestern College Moundbuilders was Saint Mary’s most recent W as the Spires jumped out to a 13-point first half lead and then coasted the rest of the way. Both teams had very good nights shooting as USM made 53.7% of their field goals with 12-of-25 three balls finding their way through the hoop; 16-of-24 free throws were tallied by the Spires. SWC went 24-of-50 from the floor with six three pointers being counted; they hit 20-of-25 from the stripe. It was a very low rebounding game as both teams converted on a good deal of field goals; USM totaled 33 boards while the Builders brought down 22 with just one offensive rebound.
Four Spire players scored in the double figures in the win with Kevin Harvey leading the way, totaling 22 on 7-of-14 from the field, 6-of-11 from downtown and 2-of-4 from the foul line. Torren Dowdy was next on the list for Saint Mary, bucketing 16 on a perfect 6-of-6 from the floor and 3-of-5 from the charity stripe. Matt Heydman and Shiron Williams scored 11 and 10 points, respectively. Marc McGory led the way for USM on the glass, hauling in 12 total rebounds; he was also the team leader with three assists, tied with Williams.
Saint Mary is scoring a KCAC high 77.7 points a contest while having a positive scoring margin of 8.3, also tops of the league; they make a conference leading 45.7% of their field goals. From distance, USM is first in the KCAC in makes per game, 8.0, and percentage, 36.8. They average 14 assists, 14 turnovers and 8.5 steals each time they hit the court.
Leading the way for the Spires’ scoring is Jordan Wilcox who averages 14.5 points every time out while making 41.9 percent from the field; he has hit a team-high 87 three pointers this season while accumulating the most minutes on the squad with 843. Big man, Chip Schneider is second on the team in scoring with 11.2 per game; he is the top rebounder for USM, grabbing six per contest. Harvey also buckets 11.2 points each time he hits the court.
As the KCAC Regular Season Champion, Saint Mary already warrants a trip to the NAIA National Tournament regardless of how things go for them in the conference tourney.
