Photo by Jakob Komel
McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College men's basketball team bounced back on Thursday night for a 71-62 win at home over the Friends University Falcons.
The Bulldogs played well on both ends of the floor, winning both halves offensively, and holding the Falcons to under 40% shooting. The opening half was fairly even. The Falcons led by as many as six points early in the half, but late in the half, the Bulldogs had flipped the script and led by eight points. At the end of the first 20 minutes, MC settled for a six points advantage, 36-31. Ja'Quan Chestnut led all scorers at the break with 16 first half points.
In the second half, the Bulldogs quickly pushed the lead out to double digits, scoring the first four points of the half to take a 10 point lead. They stretched the lead out to 12 points at the 17:13 mark 45-33, but then allowed the Falcons to go on a 9-1 run, trimming the lead to just two points with just over 12 minutes to play.
For the next six minutes the action was neck and neck. The Falcons got to within one point at the 8:55 mark, but the Bulldogs held firm and never allowed Friends to take the lead. A quick 8-0 run, sparked by some great defense by Rock Hardison, gave the Bulldogs breathing room. They pushed the lead back out to nine points, 60-51, with 4:59 remaining.
The Falcons would get no closer than six points the rest of the way, and forced to foul late, the Bulldogs knocked down enough free throws to secure a nine point margin of victory.
Before the game, Chestnut was honored as the 2021-22 recipient of the Pat Noyes Scholarship, awarded each year to a senior on the men's basketball team and in honor of former Bulldog Pat Noyes who died in a plane crash in 2001 that took the lives of several members of the Oklahoma State University men's basketball team.
Key Statistic
Just 13 personal fouls by the Bulldogs, and the Falcons only went to the free throw line 11 times where they made only five attempts (45%).
By the Numbers
It wasn't a stellar shooting night for the Bulldogs. They finished the game making 28 of 77 shots from the floor (36%).
From behind the three point line they were just 6 of 21 (29%).
They went 9 of 14 from the free throw line (64%).
Three Bulldogs scored in double figures, led by Chestnut who finished with 18.
The Bulldogs won the turnover battle 16-18, but were out-rebounded by the Falcons 47-45.
Bulldog Leaders
Points: Ja'Quan Chestnut (18)
Rebounds: Ja'Quan Chestnut (17)
Assists: Josh Rivers (11)
Steals: Rock Hardison (3)
Blocks: Owen Braxmeyer (2)
Coaches Quote
"I'm very proud of our group tonight. I thought our defensive effort was tremendous. Ja'Quan Chestnut was great, especially early in the game making shots. I thought Owen Braxmeyer and Rock Hardison were huge off the bench. I'm just happy we bounced back from a loss on Monday. Now we need to get ready for York on Saturday." – Coach Eskildsen
Next Up
With the win, the Bulldogs move to 15-9 overall, and 10-8 in the KCAC. They will wrap up a long week with a road trip on Saturday to York, Nebraska for a 5:00 pm match up with the York College Panthers.
