WICHITA, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- McPherson College senior
Aaron Bachura (Wilsey, Kan., Council Grove HS) scored a game-high 30 points but (RV) Friends University used a late 13-0 run to post an 81-72 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) men's basketball victory Wednesday night at Garvey Physical Education Center.
McPherson (1-10, 0-6 KCAC) jumped out to a 6-0 lead on back-to-back baskets by Bachura and a layup by
Grant Raleigh (Hesston, Kan., Hesston HS) before Jordan Murdock got Friends (6-5, 4-2 KCAC) on the board just under four minutes in.
The Bulldogs held on to the lead until the 11:37 mark of the first half when Josh Mann tied the score at 9-9.
Louis Parker III (Midwest City, Okla., Midwest City HS) put McPherson back in front with a 3-point play, but the Falcons rallied for nine straight points to take an 18-12 lead. Powered by six points each from Bachura and
Grant Munsen (Manhattan, Kan., Manhattan HS), the Bulldogs used a 12-3 run to retake the lead.
Murdock followed with a personal 8-0 run to give Friends a 29-24 lead with 1:15 left in the half, but McPherson closed the half with seven in a row as
Garrett Owen (Woodward, Okla., Woodward HS) drained a 3-pointer and Munsen scored a layup before Owen hit a runner just before time expired in the first half to give the Bulldogs a 31-29 lead.
Bachura drained a 3-pointer to extend the McPherson lead to five at the 18:00 mark. The Falcons rebounded to take a 10-point lead capped by a Murdock basket with 6:00 to play. The Bulldogs rallied for 12 of the next 14 points over the ensuing three minutes to tie the game at 67 on another Bachura jumper. McPherson was unable to maintain the momentum, however, as Friends went on a 13-0 run to put the game out of reach.
Bachura led all players with 30 points on 12-of-19 shooting with six 3-pointers. He continues to creep closer to 1,000 career points as he sits at 952 through 98 career games.
Munsen added 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field and was a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line. Raleigh and Parker added nine points apiece, while Owen had eight points, six rebounds and three assists.
Frederick Watts (Houston, Texas, Channelview HS) was the only other Bulldog to find the scoring column, finishing with two points and six boards.
The Bulldogs shot 44.3 percent (27-of-61) from the field and were 29.2 percent (7-of-24) from behind the arc and 73.3 percent (11-of-15) at the free throw line.
Friends matched McPherson's 11-of-28 output from the field in the first half, but exploded to shoot 58.6 percent (17-of-29) in the second half. The Falcons were also 9-of-20 from 3-point range and 16-of-21 at the line and out-rebounded the Bulldogs, 40-29.
Murdock finished with 26 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and two steals, while EJ Garnes added 22 points, eight assists and four boards.
The Bulldogs return home for their next two games. McPherson first faces Ottawa University at 5 p.m. Saturday, then follows it up with a Tuesday evening matchup with York College.
