Box Score North Newton, Kan. – Trailing by one with less than 20 seconds to play, the Bulldogs set up one final play. Unfortunately, the shot did not fall and so McPherson lost a 57-56 contest to Haskell Indian Nations University in their first game of the Bethel College Classic.
Play by Play statistics were not made available at the time of posting.
In the first half the Bulldogs netted 12-of-30 field goals including 3-of-9 from range; they shot just 28.6 percent from the charity stripe, hitting 2-of-7. The Indians struggled, making a mere 8-of-28 from the floor with a poor 1-of-12 three balls falling; they went 4-of-8 from the line.
McPherson hit 9-of-27 in the final 20 minutes; they made just 2-of-13 threes and 7-of-10 free throws. HINU scored on 12-of-25, upping their field goal percentage from the first half; Haskell only connected on 2-of-8 threes but made 10-of-14 from the stripe.
The 'Dogs ended the night shooting in 21-of-57 field goals, 36.8%, including 5-of-22 from deep; they made just 9-of-17 from the foul line. Mac lost the rebounding battle 44-to-35 and gave up 15 offensive boards to the Indians. The team tallied 14 steals, 13 turnovers, and 11 assists in the loss.
Chris Crook led the Bulldogs in points scored with his 14 on 5-of-13 shooting including a perfect 3-of-3 from behind the arc; he was 1-of-2 from the stripe and also had three boards in the contest. Ramon Martinez made it over the 10-point hump as well with his 13 on 5-of-7 field goals and 2-of-4 free throws; the sophomore also had a team-high seven rebounds and three steals. Ryan O'Hara topped the 'Dogs in assists with five; the forward also had five points and three steals.
MC will have little time to dwell on Friday's loss as their next contest will come on Saturday night at 6:00 p.m. (CT) against York College.
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McPherson College is a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member school and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
