McPherson, Kan. – After trailing by as many as 22, a late push by the Bulldogs gave the MC men's basketball team a chance at upsetting NAIA No. 7 Tabor College. Unfortunately, the Bluejays were able to hang on, winning 91-80.
It was a rough start to the game for MC as they missed several of their first shots and Tabor knocked theirs in, including 5-of-6 from deep to go ahead by 13 less than 10 minutes in. McPherson started hitting late and pulled within a couple buckets but an 11-3 run by TC to end the half gave the visiting 'Jays a 41-31 halftime lead. Mac dropped in 11-of-32 in the first period with 5-of-15 threes going down; they struggled from the line, making just 4-of-9. Tabor put 14-of-29 field goals through the net with 7-of-14 three balls; they went 6-of-8 from the charity stripe.
The Bluejays surged out to a 20-point lead in the first few minutes of the second and looked to be in control of the game. McPherson was not about to go quietly as, after trailing 76-54, they went on a 19-9 run to pull within 10 with four minutes remaining. The Bulldogs had a couple chances to get their deficit back to single figures but ended the game on the wrong side of a 91-80 score line. MC connected on 17-of-41 field goals with 9-of-16 coming from beyond the arc; they were 6-of-9 from the stripe. Tabor hit 18-of-32 from the floor with 5-of-11 going down from deep; they made 9-of-15 free throws.
McPherson shot in 38.4% for the game, 28-of-73 with 14-of-31 coming from behind the three-point line; they converted on 10-of-18 from the line. The Bulldogs grabbed 21 offensive rebounds with 40 total; the team also tallied 12 assists, seven turnovers, five steals, and one block. 38 of their total points came from bench players while 32 were scored in the paint and 28 were second chance points.
Dee Roberts made 7-of-16 field goals and 3-of-4 free throws for a game-high 20 points; he had three boards, three assists, and two steals as well. Chris Crook netted 6-of-15 from the floor and 5-of-8 from the line for 19 points; he tallied a team-high four assists. Aaron Bachura knocked down 5-of-7 three balls and 1-of-6 field goals for his 17 points; the sophomore tabbed six rebounds in his team-high 32 minutes. DeAndre Henson scored 15 points on 5-of-11 field goals and 2-of-6 foul shots; he gobbled up seven rebounds with four on the offensive end of the court. Louis Parker III and Reed Rowell each pulled in a team-high rebounds with five of Rowell's being offensive boards.
Mac will take on Oklahoma Wesleyan University on February 11th in Oklahoma for their lone game of the week; start time is slated for 8:00 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.
