BALDWIN CITY, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) ---
DeAndre Henson (Aberdeen, Md., Cloud County CC) scored 18 points to lead three Bulldogs in double figures, but the McPherson College men's basketball team fell to Baker University, 85-73, in the nonconference finale for both schools Saturday afternoon at the Collins Center.
The Bulldogs (7-9) struck first on a shot by Henson at the 19:07 left in the first half. The teams traded the next three baskets with Clae Martin tying the score at 5-5 with a 3-pointer a short time later. From there, the Wildcats (6-6) went on an 11-1 run capped by another Martin 3-pointer to lead by 10 at 16-6 with 14:11 remaining.
McPherson slowly chipped away at the lead over the next 10 minutes, finally drawing even at 31 on a basket by
Aaron Bachura (Wilsey, Kan., Council Grove HS) with 3:04 on the clock. Baker responded with three straight 3-pointers - one each by Tyrome Parker, Tyree Peter and Martin - to lead 40-31 with 1:41 left in the half.
Chris Crook (Oklahoma City, Okla., Millwood HS) hit a pair of shots down the stretch as the Bulldogs were able to cut the deficit back to six as Baker led 41-35 at the break.
After seeing the lead grow to eight points early in the second half, McPherson was able to take a 51-50 lead on a Bachura 3-pointer with 11:50 to play. The teams traded baskets before Javeion Gray gave Baker a lead it would not relinquish after converting the and-one after being fouled on am made layup to put the Wildcats up 55-53. The Bulldogs would get the lead back to one on a couple of occasions over the next couple of minutes. Crook made all three free throws after being fouled behind the arc to make it 61-60 with 8:30 to play, but the Wildcats went on an 8-0 run over the next 2:47 to extend the lead back to nine. McPherson charged back, however, with eight straight points of its own on a
Careino Gurley (Minneapolis, Minn., Rochester CTC) hoop and a pair of Henson 3-pointers. The visitors couldn't sustain the run, though, as Parker hit a jumper and Martin drained an off-balance three at the top of the key to make it a six-point game.
After Henson hit a pair of free throws, an unguarded Parker sank a wide open 3-pointer from the wing. On the Bulldogs' next trip down the court,
Reed Rowell (Topeka, Kan., Butler CC) was left alone at the top of the key and promptly drained a three of his own to again make it a four-point game.
Baker went 8-of-10 on free throws over the final 90 seconds to put the game out of reach.
Working with a short bench, only nine Bulldogs saw the court against the Wildcats for head coach
Tim Swartzendruber. Henson finished with 18 points on 5-of-11 shooting with three 3-pointers and three rebounds. Bachura added 17 points, hitting on six of 13 shots from the field, including three of eight from 3-point range. Crook was the final Bulldog in double figures with 14 points and three rebounds. Rowell narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds, while Gurley had eight points, three rebounds, and three assists.
Thomas Butler (Key West, Fla., Vermilion CC),
Grant Raleigh (Hesston, Kan., Hesston HS) and
Garrett Owen (Woodward, Okla., Woodward HS) combined for seven points on 3-of-11 shooting, four assists, four rebounds, three steals, while
Taylor Ellison (Tulsa, Okla., Memorial HS) did not register any statistics in a short relief appearance in the second half.
Parker led Baker with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting with three 3-pointers. He also had three assists. Martin added 15 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Daniel Young added six points and six rebounds, while Gray tallied seven points, five assists and three rebounds.
The Bulldogs shot 41.7 percent (25-of-60) from the field and were 8-of-25 from 3-point range and 15-of-19 at the charity stripe. The Wildcats shot 53.6 percent (30-of-56) from the field - 15-of-28 in each half - and hit 11 3-pointers. Baker held a 36-29 edge in rebounds and finished with a 34-18 advantage in points in the paint.
The Bulldogs return to Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) play Thursday, Jan. 5, with a trip to league newcomer York College. Tipoff from York, Nebraska, will be 8 p.m. and the game can be heard on 96.7 KBBE with Matt Cole and Steve Sell on the call.
