Men's Basketball | 2/8/2014 11:17:00 PM
Box Score
McPherson, Kan. – It came down to the final seconds on Saturday as McPherson basketball fell to the visiting Tabor College Blue Jays 76-74 after two last-second shot attempts by Mac failed to find their way through the hoop. MC is now 12-14 on the year and 5-9 in the KCAC, sitting in eighth place with four games to play in the regular season.
For the second-straight game, McPherson got off to a slow start, trailing 10-2 early; the 'Dogs would eventually battle back and then take the lead before the 10-minute mark. Tabor quickly jumped back on top and maintained the advantage for the remainder of the opening period. Mac's deficit stayed in single figures most of the way but peaked at 15; the Bulldogs scored the final six points of the half but still trailed 39-30 at the break.
MC went 11-of-29 from the field in the first half, hitting 4-of-8 from behind the arc; they made just 4-of-7 from the foul line. The Blue Jays bucketed 15-of-32 with 4-of-9 three balls finding their way through; they went a perfect 5-of-5 from the charity stripe.
McPherson came out of their locker room determined to get back on top and did so just under five minutes into the second period; their lead was short-lived as TC jumped back ahead but the 'Dogs never trailed by more than three the rest of the way. The two clubs went back-and-forth for the final 10 minutes of the half, never letting the other out of reach; MC couldn't get their lead any higher than two points as Tabor had an answer to every Bulldog basket. In the game's waning minutes, the momentum seemed to be shifting towards the home team but the Blue Jays hung around, hitting their free throws down the stretch. A pair of missed shots by Mac in the final 30 seconds put TC back on the line where they went 1-of-2 giving them a two-point lead, allowing the Bulldogs another chance. Again, two missed field goals in the final seconds fell just short, giving Tabor the close victory, 76-74.
A 16-of-34 showing from the floor was tabulated by the 'Dogs in the game's final 20 minutes; they made 4-of-7 from downtown but continued to struggle from the stripe, counting 8-of-15. TC scored on 50% of their 24 field goals but went oh-fer from deep, 0-of-2; they saw 13-of-16 free throws fall in.
The game ended with McPherson posting a 42.9 shooting percentage as 27-of-63 shots dropped including 8-of-15 from range; 10 points were lost at the foul stripe as only 12-of-22 free throws went in for Mac. The team hauled in 36 rebounds with 15 coming on the offensive side of the floor; they also logged 21 assists, 10 turnovers, eight steals and five blocks.
Samson Shivers (Houston, Texas) got hot late and scored 18 of his 20 total points in the second half; the senior went 6-of-12 from the floor including 3-of-8 from beyond the arc while making 5-of-8 from the charity stripe. Shivers is now 28 points off the McPherson College record for total points scored in a career which sits at 2000. Brian (BJ) Johnson (Kansas City, Kan.) put up 11 points on Saturday, cashing in on 3-of-15 from the field and 5-of-10 from the foul line; he also netted eight rebounds and a team-high five assists. Devirous Johnson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) got yet another double-double, with his 10 points and 10 rebounds; the Nation's leader now has 18 on the year. D. Johnson also broke the Mac school record for most rebounds in two seasons and pushed the single-season record to 319 and counting.
The 'Dogs hit the road on Thursday, February 13 as they go to Salina, Kansas to face the KWU Coyotes; tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. (CT) with the JV to start at 4:00
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