Lindsborg, Kan. – It was a game of runs between McPherson College and Bethany College on Thursday night. After the Swedes took a lead to start the game, MC used a late run to take a 45-43 lead into the break. Again trailing in the closing minutes of the second, the Bulldogs charged forward and got within two but a late runner and tip-in went awry, ending the game in the favor of Bethany 91-89.
The opening five minutes of the game could not have gone much worse for McPherson as they allowed a very athletic and fast-paced Swede team take a 16-4 lead. Things settled down for the 'Dogs but their deficit remained in double figures until there were eight minutes left in the half. MC kept chipping away at the Bethany lead and, following an 11-0 run, took the lead 40-39 with 2:35 to play in the period. After a few traded buckets, Justin Wiltfong buried a three-point bucket to give Mac a 45-43 advantage at the break. The Bulldogs made 14-of-35 field goals in the opening 20; they connected on 6-of-15 threes and cashed in on all 11 free throws. BC netted 16-of-33 from the floor with 3-of-7 from deep; they were 8-of-11 from the stripe.
In the second, McPherson held the lead for most of the opening 10 minutes but a quick surge by Bethany around the midway point in the half put the Swedes ahead 82-73 with six minutes remaining. The Bulldogs kept the score margin within a couple buckets for the next several minutes and pulled within two with less than 60 second to go. After a Chris Crook three-point bucket, the 'Dogs were just one-point away from BC with less than 10 to play. A 1-of-2 showing from the stripe gave Mac a good chance of either winning or forcing OT. Grant Raleigh had a running layup go just long and a tip-in try by Jared Haury rattled around the rim and rolled off to end the game at 91-89 in favor of Bethany. The 'Dogs were 16-of-35 from the floor with just 3-of-11 from range falling in; they went 9-of-10 from the charity stripe in the second half. BC dropped in 16-of-35 field goals but saw just 2-of-8 threes go in; they made 14-of-22 free throws.
McPherson ended the game with a 42.9 shooting percentage, 30-of-70, with 9-of-26 three-point buckets; they netted an outstanding 95.2% of their foul shots, 20-of-21. Mac pulled in 37 rebounds with 14 on the offensive end of the court. They also had 13 turnovers, 12 assists, four steals, and a block. 30 of their total points came in the paint with 29 being from bench players.
Crook led MC in scoring with his 24 points on 6-of-15 field goals and 10-of-11 free throws; he also had five rebounds. Ramon Martinez had a stellar second half, going 7-of-7 in the period; he finished the game making 9-of-12 for 19 points. Raleigh put in 15 points from the bench in his 26 minutes of play; the freshman hit 5-of-13 from the floor and both of his foul shots. Ryan O'Hara closed out the game with 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting; the junior led the team in rebounds with eight.
Mac will travel to Hillsboro, Kansas to take on Tabor College as rivalry-week continues this Saturday. The junior varsity is set to start at 3:00 p.m. (CT) with the varsity scheduled for a 7:00 tipoff.
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McPherson College is a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member school and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
