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McPherson, Kan. – The final week of regular season basketball is upon us and the Bulldogs will start the week in Sterling, Kansas for their last road game of the year. Mac will square off against Sterling College at 8:00 p.m. (CT) with the JV tilt slated for 4:00.
Scouting McPherson
It's been one of those years for the Bulldogs. They've been in nearly every game this season but unfortunately have had trouble closing things out. The team is 7-21 this year and 3-15 in the KCAC. Mac will head into Thursday's contest in a four-game losing streak.
Last Time Out – It was not a good shooting night for McPherson this past Thursday as they struggled to score against a very score-happy Oklahoma Wesleyan University squad. The 'Dogs were slow out of the gate and by the time they started scoring, OKWU had already amassed a 20-point lead. The halftime score sat at 52-29. The second period didn't start well for MC but they came alive midway through which made for a close half; McPherson only lost the final period 55-52 but ultimately lost the contest 107-81. The Bulldogs went 28-of-77 from the floor with 14-of-37 three balls dropping in; they converted on just 11-of-20 free throws. Mac logged 41 rebounds along with 13 turnovers, five steals, and three blocks.
Chris Crook scored a game-high 26 points on 9-of-19 shooting with 5-of-13 threes; he went 3-of-5 from the line and had a pair of assists as well. Chris Lowe scored 16 on 6-of-14 field goals and 2-of-2 free throws. Dee Roberts was the final Bulldog to hit double figures with his 15 points. DeAndre Henson scored four points, had four assists, and four rebounds.
ALL STATISTICS ARE FROM KCAC GAMES ONLY
Year at a Glance – The Bulldogs are scoring 75.6 points a night but allow 83.6, 10th in the KCAC. The team is making 41.3% from the floor and a conference second-best 35.2% from deep; they are third in the league in free throw percentage at 73.8%. The 'Dogs make 8.9 three-point buckets each time out which is second in the KCAC. They tally 37.2 rebounds a contest as well as 11.0 assists, 5.4 steals, and 2.2 blocks.
Crook buckets over 20 points a game through the team's 18 KCAC outings; he is the top three-point and free throw shooter and tabs 4.4 boards a game as well. Roberts is second on the list at 14.0ppg; he is also second in three-point makes with 33. Henson scores 8.0 points a night while also pulling in 3.7 boards; he's making a team-high 40% from long range.
Bulldogs in the National Rankings – The team is 18th in free throw percentage at 74.2% for the season.
It's senior night for McPherson this Saturday as they host the University of Saint Mary for a 5:00 p.m. tip; the JV team will take on Central Christian College starting at noon in the Sport Center.
Scouting Sterling
The Warriors hold a 10-18 overall record and are 8-11 in the KCAC; they sit eighth in the league and have a chance of finishing as high as fourth or as low as ninth. After a strong showing in the first round of conference, 6-4, the team has won just two in round two; most of the wins in the fall and losses in the spring have been close contests. Their latest defeat was not one of those tight games as SC lost 86-58 to Oklahoma Wesleyan last Saturday.
Last Time Out – Sterling suffered the same issues that McPherson had down in Oklahoma, shots just weren't falling. The Eagles rushed out to a double-digit advantage and never looked back; they pushed their lead to 19 at the break, 43-24. SC couldn't keep up with the Oklahoma Wesleyan fire power in the second as they saw their deficit eventually reach 30+; the game ended with the home team winning by 28. The Warriors made just 18-of-56 from the floor with 10-of-33 three-point makes; they cashed in on just 12-of-22 free throws. The team tallied a mere 30 rebounds to go along with 19 turnovers, eight assists, and two steals.
Brandon Givens led all scoring with 17 coming on 5-of-12 threes and 2-of-2 free throw. Grand Speer hit 4-of-9 from deep and 1-of-3 from inside the arc along with both his foul shots for 16 points. Trey Dubbert was next on the scoring list at nine points on 4-of-9 shooting.
ALL STATISTICS ARE FROM KCAC GAMES ONLY
Year at a Glance – Sterling is scoring 76.1 points a game while surrendering 79.1; they are ninth in the league in scoring margin at -2.9. The team nets 41.7% from the floor with 33.3% falling in from distance; they are ninth in the KCAC in free throw percentage at 66%. The Warriors average 38.9 rebounds each time out as well as 12. 5 assists, 5.4 steals, and 2.3 blocks.
Givens is scoring 13.2 points a night and has made a team-high 58 three balls; he connects on 40.8% from behind the arc and is the top free throw shooter on the team, 54-of-67. Josiah Ray tallies 11.6 per game and tops the squad in rebounding average at 6.3. Maurice Williams sits second in rebounding with 102 in his 19 conference games; the forward scores 10.7 each time out.
Thursday's game will be the last of the regular season for SC. Depending on what happens, the Warriors could either be hosting a postseason contest, traveling for the opening round, or not even make the tournament.
