McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College men's basketball team, winners of two straight this week, saw their winning streak come to an end on Saturday night, as they fell, 77-66 at home, to the Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes.
It was a rough night shooting for the Bulldog men. They finished the first half, making just 7 of 26 shots from the floor, and only 3 of 11 from behind the three point arc. What kept them in the game in the opening 20 minutes was their work at the charity stripe. They made of 13 of the 19 attempts which helped the stay within striking distance (14) of the Coyotes at the halftime intermission.
In the second half, the Bulldogs opened play on a 13-1 run to trim the Coyote lead to 2, 45-43 at the 15:53 mark. Unfortunately they couldn't get any closer. The Coyotes once again found their rhythm, and pushed their lead back out to double digits, just a few possessions later. The Bulldogs continued to fight, but they just couldn't get enough shots to fall.
They finished the second half shooting 41% from the floor on 13 of 31 shots, but they just couldn't find their range from deep. They made only 1 three point shot in the half on 9 attempts. In the end, despite shooting 71% from the free throw line, they fell to the Coyotes by 11, 77-66.
Delvon Hightower (Jr. Bakersfield, Calif.) led the Bulldogs in the scoring column with 16 points. He had three of the four Bulldog three pointers, and was 3 of 4 from the free throw line. The only other Bulldog to finish with double figures was
Josh Rivers (Fr. Midwest City, Okla.), who added 15.
"Give Kansas Wesleyan credit," said Bulldog head coach
Tim Swartzendruber. "They came out and put it to us early. We showed some fight early in the second half but were unable to sustain. We need to bounce back Monday."
With the loss, the Bulldogs fall to 9-12 overall, and 5-11 in conference play. They will get another chance to add one to the win column on Monday when they host the Sterling College Warriors at the Sport Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 pm following the women's game at 6:00.
MC (66) – Hightower (16), Rivers (15), Magot (8), Gurley (7), Owens (6), Oxford (4), Watts (3), Munsen (3), Barideaux (2), Owen (2).
