Bellevue, Neb. – Posting just a 29.7 field goal percentage in the first half, with just 2-of-12 from three-point land, was not how McPherson wanted to start their second battle with York College this season. After a stronger second half, the Bulldogs ended the game losing 108-75; this is the second time this season that York has scored over 100 points against the 'Dogs.
It was slow scoring for MC in the opening minutes. The Panthers did not have near as much difficulty putting the ball through the rim as they scored two for every one point of McPherson. By the midway point in the half, York led 24-12. The Bulldogs pushed back and got their deficit back to single figures and it hovered around the 10-point mark for the rest of the half. Three free throws by McPherson to close the half put the score at 50-37 as the teams headed into the locker room.
Mac went just 11-of-37 from the floor with a poor 2-of-12 from range; they made 13-of-16 from the stripe. The Panthers took 47 total shots in the first half and saw 19 drop in, 40.4%; they hit 3-of-10 threes and 9-of-12 foul shots. Seven turnovers did not help the 'Dogs neither did allowing 10 offensive rebounds.
McPherson started slow again in the second period but a mini-run pulled them within five points of York with 13 minutes still to play. A 10-0 run by the Panthers quickly ended that threat and MC never got within 10 the rest of the way. YC hit 100 points with under two minutes to play and went on to win the game 108-75.
Mac improved their shooting percentage in the second but only to 39.4% as 13-of-33 field goals were made by the team; the Bulldogs connected on 4-of-11 three-point buckets and 8-of-10 foul shots. The Panthers drained 50% of their 36 attempts from the floor including an impressive 9-of-15 three pointers; York went 13-of-17 from the charity stripe.
McPherson shot in 24-of-70 for the game with just 6-of-23 going in from distance, 16.7%; the 'Dogs did a nice job from the free throw line as they made 21-of-26. The team pulled in 41 rebounds including 13 off the offensive glass; playing without big-man Reed Rowell, MC allowed 22 offensive rebounds to YC which resulted in 32 second chance points. The Bulldogs had 15 turnovers, 13 assists, two steals, and two blocks in the game.
Chris Crook led Mac in scoring with 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting with 4-of-6 threes and 1-of-2 free throws finding their way in. Ramon Martinez added 13 points to the cause with 5-of-10 field goals dropping through; the sophomore also went 2-of-2 from the line and had five rebounds as well. Dee Roberts was the final double-digit scorer for McPherson with his 11; the guard went 5-of-15 shooting including 1-of-4 three balls. Chris Lowe was one-point away from the 10-point mark with his 3-of-13 field goals and 3-of-3 free throws; the freshman point guard tallied a team-high four assists.
MC will take on College of the Ozarks tomorrow, November 28th at 3:00 p.m. (CT)
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McPherson College is a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member school and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
