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Tournament Central
McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College men's basketball team will take on a pair of NAIA D-II schools from Iowa in the next couple of days as they participate in the Holiday Classic hosted by Morningside College. The 'Dogs take on Morningside at 7:30 p.m. (CT) on December 29th and Briar Cliff University at 3:00 on the 30th.
Mac heads into the classic on a three-game slide. After winning their first KCAC game of the season, a 104-101 triumph, the Bulldogs lost by eight points to both Bethel College and Kansas Wesleyan University before suffering a defeat to Tabor College 87-67 on December 13th. MC took on NCAA D-II Emporia State University in an exhibition game a couple days later and, after giving the Hornets a tough game, lost 87-71.
Following the December classic, McPherson will have one non-conference game in the New Year before they hit the KCAC; the 'Dogs will play Baker University on January 3rd in Baldwin City, Kansas with tipoff set for 4:00.
Scouting Morningside
The Mustangs are 10-2 on the year and are riding a three-game winning streak; they are 5-2 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. The team's last game came on December 13th when they defeated GPAC bottom-feeder Nebraska Wesleyan University 96-68.
On the year, MC is averaging 85.5 points a night while allowing just over 75. The team knocks down 46.2 percent of their field goals and hits on 35.7% from downtown; they convert 75.7 percent of their tries from the foul stripe. The Mustangs log 36.7 rebounds a night to go along with their 15.1 assists, 11.6 turnovers, 8.4 steals, and 3.6 blocks.
Morningside has started the same five players in each of their 12 games; and those are their top scorers, four of which score 10+ on a nightly basis. Steve O'Neill leads the charge with his 20.0 points per game; the guard has hit on 32 three balls this season and makes 47.1 percent from deep while playing in 29.8 minutes a night. Kyle Nikkel is next on the team with his 12.5 average; he is the team's leading rebounder, netting 6.3 per contest. Andrew Christen and Ryan Tegtmeier each score 11 points a game and Tegtmeier has amassed a team-high 37 assists on the year. Tanner Miller is the only starter that doesn't average double-digits scoring but his numbers sit at 9.3 points per game; he plays in a team-high 30.3 minutes each night out.
Scouting Briar Cliff
The Chargers are another tough GPAC school; the team is 12-3 on the year and lead the conference at 6-1 through the first seven games. BCU is currently in a six-game win streak and take on Mayville State University (N.D.) in their first game of the Holiday Classic. Briar Cliff's most recent win also came against Nebraska Wesleyan; the Chargers won 97-88 on December 20th.
BCU has scored 1198 points this season, averaging 79.8; they have a positive scoring margin of 9.8. The team nets 47% from the floor including 41.1% from downtown; two-thirds of their free throws drop on average. They pull in just 33.7 rebounds a night and have a negative rebounding margin of -1.7. The Chargers tabulate 13.2 turnovers, 11.9 assists, 9.7 steals, and 1.9 blocks a night.
Shane Graves is Briar Cliff's leading scorer as he nets 13.0 a contest; he has made a team-high 64 field goals and also leads the way in assists with 46. Next on the scoring list is Clay Harreld who tabs 11.5 on average; he is the team's three-point shooter with 43 makes on the year and knocks in 46.7 from deep. Bryan Forbes totals 10.1 per game while leading the team in rebounds with a 4.6 average. Austin Lefler and Zach Otting each hover around the 10-point mark for the year.
