BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (macbulldogs.com) --- All five McPherson College starters finished in double-figures but the Bulldogs could not overcome 14 Oklahoma Wesleyan University 3-pointers as the Eagles posted a 83-67 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) victory Saturday afternoon at Mueller Sports Center.
Playing without injured starter
Grant Raleigh (Hesston, Kan., Hesston HS), McPherson (4-16, 1-11 KCAC) jumped out to an early lead on back-to-back baskets by
Frederick Watts (Houston, Texas, Channelview HS) and
Grant Munsen (Manhattan, Kan., Manhattan HS). Oklahoma Wesleyan (14-6, 7-5 KCAC) scored 10 of the next 12 points to take a four-point lead just five minutes in.
The Eagles pushed the advantage to five points on a 3-pointer by KJ Malveau at the 11:17 mark but the Bulldogs chipped away at the lead, moving back in front on a
Justin Wiltfong (Stockton, Kan., Stockton HS) basket with 2:49 remaining. The teams traded 3-point shots down the stretch with Malveau making the last strike with eight seconds left to put OKWU up 40-37 at the break.
Aaron Bachura (Wilsey, Kan., Council Grove HS) drained a 3-pointer to open the second half, tying the game at 40-all. Oklahoma Wesleyan followed with a 14-4 run with only baskets by Munsen and Watts falling for the Bulldogs. Another 3-pointer by Malveau at the 12:10 mark pushed the lead to 12 points at 63-51, but McPherson rallied for six straight points capped by another Bachura 3-pointer just past the midway point of the half. An Isaac Rowe basket was countered by a pair of
Louis Parker III (Midwest City, Okla., Midwest City HS) free throws to move the score to 65-59, but the Eagles scored eight straight points over the next 2:29 to move the lead back to 14.
The Bulldogs used a 6-2 run to make it a 10-point game with just 2:08 remaining but could get no closer as OKWU rattled off eight straight points before a Munsen basket in the final seconds set the final margin at 16 points.
After shooting 46.7 percent (14-of-30) from the field in the first half, McPherson fell off to 34.5 percent (10-of-29) in the second half to finish at 40.7 percent overall. The Bulldogs drained eight 3-pointers and were 11-of-14 at the charity stripe. The Eagles, who held a 41-29 advantage on the boards, shot 46.4 percent (32-of-69) from the field - including 14-of-37 from behind the arc.
Bachura led McPherson with 16 point on 6-of-11 shooting with four 3-pointers. He also had six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Watts added 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while
Garrett Owen (Woodward, Okla., Woodward HS) had 11 points and four assists and Munsen and
Jeffrey Oxford (Claremore, Okla., Claremore HS) added 10 points apiece.
Malveau scored a game-high 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting with six 3-pointers. He also pulled down six rebounds and had a game-high-tying seven assists. Elbert Lawrence added 18 points and six boards, while Breiman Alexander added 12 points and seven assists off the bench. Rowe finished with 11 points, 10 boards, three assists, two blocks and two steals, while Josh Wilchombe added 11 points and nine rebounds.
"We started two freshman, two sophomores and our senior today," said head coach
Tim Swartzendruber. "We competed for 49 minutes against an extremely talented Oklahoma Wesleyan team. I'm disappointed in losing but very proud of our effort."
The Bulldogs return home for four of their next five games, starting Wednesday when county rival Bethany College makes the trip to McPherson. Tipoff is slated for 8 p.m. at the Sport Center.
