JOLIET, Ill. — McPherson College scored a season-high 108 points but found themselves on the wrong side of the decision Monday (Dec. 30), falling 119-108 to Saint Xavier University in the first game of the New Year's Classic in Joliet, Ill.
The Cougars scored 82 points in the second half, shooting 65.1 percent from the field and forcing the Bulldogs into 10 turnovers in the final frame.
Free throws were a huge piece of the game with the Cougars shooting 27-for-30 at the charity stripe, while the Bulldogs scored 33 of their 108 points at the line.
MC trailed 5-2 early, then led the rest of the first half. The Bulldogs shot 56.3 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes and came away with seven steals.
A pair of threes by Jamil Hardaway and one by Tarrance Austin helped the Bulldogs close the final four minutes of the half on a 17-9 run and give them their largest lead of the game.
Saint Xavier forced turnovers and knocked down threes to quickly trim the lead to 60-57 less than three minutes into the second half. The Cougars took their first lead since it was 5-2, on a three by Andre Brandon grabbing a 74-72 advantage with less than 12 minutes to play.
Five Bulldogs scored in double figures led by Austin with 21 points. Curtis Rose filled the statsheet, scoring 19 points and dishing four assists, while grabbing a team-high-tying seven rebounds and swiping five steals. Aaron Williams Jr. finished with 18 points, while KJ Marshall added 17 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks. Hardaway rounded out the double-digit scoring with 13 points, while adding three assists.
The two teams combined for 227 points, which is the second-most in any game in McPherson College history behind a KCAC matchup from the 1972-73 season when the Bulldogs bested Friends 121-112. The 119 points allowed is tied for the most points allowed in MC history.
The Bulldogs will wrap up the New Year's Classic with their final non-conference game of the season tomorrow afternoon, playing host St. Francis University at 1:00 p.m.
