Men's Basketball Topped by Hastings in MC Classic Finale

Box Score McPHERSON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- Careino Gurley (Minneapolis, Minn., Rochester CTC) led three McPherson College players in double figures with 18 points but the Bulldogs fell to 1-2 overall with a 79-70 loss to Hastings College on Saturday evening at the Sport Center in the final game of the 2017 McPherson Classic.

Hastings jumped out to an early 17-11 lead after six minutes but McPherson battled back to tie the game with 13:33 to play as Gurley and Louis Parker III (Midwest City, Okla., Midwest City HS) hit 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions. The Bulldogs took a brief lead near the midway point of the half, but the Broncos responded with a 9-2 run to lead 28-23 with just under four minutes to play. McPherson responded with an 11-2 run of their own to turn a 28-23 deficit into a 34-30 lead. Hastings point guard Kevin Miller hit a fadeaway jumper at the free throw line just before the buzzer sounded to leave the Bulldogs with a two-point cushion at the break.

The Broncos opened the second half on a 17-4 run highlighted by back-to-back Jake Hansen 3-pointers to grab a 49-38 lead. Garrett Owen (Woodward, Okla., Woodward HS) responded with a 3-pointer on McPherson's next trip down the floor to spark a 13-2 run that completely erased the deficit. A Grant Raleigh (Hesston, Kan., Hesston HS) 3-pointer tied the game at 51-all. The Bulldogs could not maintain the momentum, though, as Hastings went on a 22-9 run to build the lead back to 13 in the last couple of minutes. McPherson was able to whittle away at the deficit, getting it to seven on an Aaron Bachura (Wilsey, Kan., Council Grove HS) 3-pointer, but Miller would hit three free throws down the stretch to keep the game out of reach for the Bulldogs.

Gurley led all players with 18 points on 5-of-7 shooting with a 3-pointer. He was also a perfect 7-for-7 at the free throw line, had a team-high six rebounds and three assists. Bachura added 15 points with a trio of 3-pointers, while Raleigh chipped in with 14 on 5-of-9 shooting. Owen finished with five points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals from his point guard position, while Jeffrey Oxford (Claremore, Okla., Claremore HS) had seven points and Parker had five points and six rebounds off the bench.

All five Hastings starters finished in double figures, led by Drew Callaghan with 14 points, 11 rebounds and three assists. Kevin Miller had a team-high 15 points and four assists, while Jake Hansen added 14 points, four rebounds, three steals and an assist, Connor Musiel had 14 points and Bart Hiscock 13 and six rebounds.. Zach Kitten had eight points and six rebounds off the bench.

The Broncos won the battle on the glass by a 47-31 margin, held a 48-22 advantage in points in the paint and led 14-6 in second-chance points.

"The guys played hard," said head coach Tim Swartzendruber. "It boiled down to making shots and we didn't make them down the stretch. We got better this weekend. I believe this team has a chance to be very good."

The Bulldogs will look to even their record on Wednesday evening when crosstown rival Central Christian College visits the Sport Center in the annual Battle for McPherson. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m.