McPherson College Athletics
HILLSBORO, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) — The McPherson College Bulldogs forced 18 turnovers Wednesday (Feb. 1) to take down the Tabor College Bluejays 69-60 in Hillsboro, Kan.
The Bulldogs have now won three of their last four games to keep pace for eighth in the KCAC standings with Ottawa.
Both teams came out hot to open the game, with each team drilling a pair of threes.
A triple by Antonio Watson sparked a 6-0 spurt, that also included a three from Owen Braxmeyer and a bucket by Charles Snyder, to put the Bulldogs on top 16-11 with 14:39 remaining in the half.
The Bluejays responded with back-to-back treys to grab the lead, but the deficit was short-lived as a basket by Yaniel Vidal started a 9-0 burst capped by another Braxmeyer triple.
The Bulldogs scored the final seven points of the half, en route to a 43-34 lead at the break.
McPherson kept the Bluejays at bay through the first seven minutes of the second frame, but an old-fashioned three-point play by Kade Hemmert followed by a three by Kreeland Avery trimmed the lead to 50-48 with 10:33 left to play.
The Bulldogs responded by pushing the lead back to an eight point advantage, then made their free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
Curtis Rose led four Bulldogs in double-digit scoring with 17 points, while Jamil Hardaway added 14 points and a team-high three steals. Braxmeyer finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the year, and Watson scored 13 points, shooting 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.
Hemmert paced the Bluejays with 17 points, and Austin Hilton added 14 points.
The Bulldogs return to the Sports Center on Saturday (Feb. 4) for a KCAC matchup against York College. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. with Senior Night festivities immediately following the women’s game.
