Sterling, Kan. – Despite hitting on 12-of-24 three-point buckets and leading for nearly three-quarters of the game, the McPherson College men's basketball team fell on Thursday to Sterling College 71-70. Mac is now 5-12 overall and 1-4 in the KCAC.
"We had our chances," said Coach Swartzendruber. "Unfortunatley we didn't make the plays down the stretch. Give Sterling credit, they made the plays."
Chris Crook jumped-started the Bulldogs as the sophomore scored 10 of the team's first 12 points. Sterling stayed out in front for most of the first 10 minutes but an 11-2 run by Mac at the midway point of the half put the 'Dogs ahead for the rest of the period. McPherson's lead would reach eight but the halftime score sat at 38-32. MC counted 15-of-32 field goals including 6-of-12 from range while Sterling went 14-of-28 from the floor but just 2-of-11 from deep.
The second period was a very much back-and-forth battle. The Bulldogs stayed ahead but never were able to pull away. Down the stretch both teams were timid when shooting the ball as just 18 total points were scored in the final six minutes by the two squads combined. Mac had a couple chances to put the game away in the closing minutes but never could, leaving the window open for SC.
The Warriors finally took their first lead in nearly 30 minutes with under a minute to play. McPherson answered on their next possession but following a missed SC field goal, the 'Dogs were short on the front-end of a one-and-one, keeping it a one-point game. With 6.9 seconds left, Sterling scored their final bucket putting the score at 71-70. Mac's 12-footer as the buzzer sounded was off target, ending the game at 71-70 in favor of the home team. MC dropped in 12-of-33 from the floor with 6-of-12 going down from behind the arc. Sterling was again 50% from the field, making another 14-of-28 with two threes.
The 'Dogs went 27-of-65 in the game and connected on 12-of-24 three balls; they only made 4-of-9 free throws. The team tallied 31 rebounds while giving up 46. 15 assists and only five turnovers were recorded by Mac; they also had four steals.
TJ Grant led the team in scoring with his 21 points; he knocked down 8-of-15 field goals and dropped 4-of-7 from range while making 1-of-3 free throws. The senior also topped the team in assists with five. Crook ended the night with 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Latron Jolly came in off the bench to score 10 points on 4-of-8 field goals including a pair from behind the arc. DeAndre Henson recorded a team-high eight rebounds to go with his eight points. Darius Hill was held to just nine points and six rebounds; the forward was averaging 17.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game heading into the contest.
MC will have a short break as they host Ottawa University on Saturday the 10th; varsity tips off at 7:00 p.m. (CT) while the JV takes on Hesston College at 3:00 in the Sport Center.
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McPherson College is a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member school and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
