McPHERSON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- Thomas Butler's putback of a missed layup with three seconds to play gave the McPherson College men's basketball team a 59-58 win over Haskell Indian Nations University on Friday night to cap the first night of the McPherson Classic.
Haskell (0-3) looked to be in control early on as McPherson (2-0) struggled to find its stroke. The Bulldogs shot just 6-of-28 (21.4 percent) from the field and hit just one 3-pointer in the first half compared to 12-of-34 shooting (35.3 percent) and a pair of threes for the Indians, who led 27-16 at the break.
A 3-pointer by Bryon Elledge with 17:05 to play gave Haskell its largest lead of the game at 34-18. From there, the Bulldogs began to chip away at the lead. Trailing 42-29 at the 11:12 mark,
Chris Crook (Oklahoma City, Okla.) made a slashing layup and, following an Indian turnover, drained a three to cut the lead to single digits. Crook was assessed a technical foul after making the three with Aquino Brinson making one of two free throws to extend the lead back to nine, but the fire was lit for the Bulldogs.
Aaron Bachura (Wilsey, Kan.) hit back-to-back treys to get with in three. Elledge was fouled while making a basket at the other end and converted the free throw to make it a six-point game with 7:56 to play, but two more Bachura threes allowed the Bulldogs to complete the long comeback.
Haskell would make small runs down the stretch, but McPherson would always draw the Indians back, tying the game at 51-51 and 53-53. A George Hill free throw and a Zach Bruns layup put the Indians up 56-53, but the Bulldogs responded with a basket by
Butler (Key West, Fla.) with 2:42 remaining. McPherson matched another Bruns layup with one by
Grant Raleigh (Hesston, Kan.) with just 50 seconds left.
The teams traded missed shots on their next trips down the floor, but
DeAndre Henson (Aberdeen, Md.) was able to corral a Bachura miss with 21 ticks left to set the Bulldogs up for the final shot. Out of a McPherson timeout and with the clock winding down, Crook drove to the basket for a layup. The ball came off the back of the rim into the hands of Butler, who got the putback to give the Bulldogs the one-point lead.
Haskell had one last chance as Elledge sank a desperation three at the buzzer. After one official initially granted the basket, the referees conferenced and waived off the basket, determining that Elledge still had the ball in his hands when the horn sounded.
Butler finished wth a team-high 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting with eight rebounds and a pair of steals to lead McPherson. Bachura added 15 points on five 3-pointers, while Crook had 11 points, two rebounds and two steals off the bench. Henson finished with eight points and five boards and Raleigh had four points and six rebounds.
T'salidi Seqouia led the Indians with 17 points and nine rebounds, but was forced into seven turnovers. Elledge added 12 points, while Brinson had seven points and four rebounds and Nakia Hendricks had five points and six boards.
"I'm extremely proud of how we fought back," said head coach
Tim Swartzendruber. "We struggled to score the whole night, but we found a way to win. Our cheer team and the students section were awesome. It was great to see that excitement in the Sport Center."
The Bulldogs wrap up the McPherson Classic on Saturday with a 6 p.m. matchup with Bacone College. That game is preceded by a 2 p.m. game between Haskell and Bethel College, a 74-71 winner over Bacone earlier on Friday.
