WINFIELD, Kan. (MacBulldogs.com) – For the first time since 2015, the McPherson College Bulldogs won in Winfield, taking down Southwestern College 78-77 to notch their fifth straight KCAC win Saturday afternoon (Jan. 11) inside Stewart Fieldhouse.
The Bulldogs trailed 74-70 with 2:18 remaining when Collin Storr found Jamil Hardaway on the right wing, who knocked down his team-high third three-pointer of the game to cut into the lead. However, the Moundbuilders matched with a triple of their own by Trey Abasolo just 21 seconds later.
Storr once again trimmed the lead to 77-75 with 1:41 to play, then solid defense by the Bulldogs forced Evan Barber to turn the ball over just five seconds later.
Then, like he did on several occasions last season, Curtis Rose came up clutch late in the game, drilling the go-ahead triple at the end of the shot clock to put the Bulldogs on top 78-77 with 1:18 to play.
Needing two stops, the Bulldogs turned to their defense and forced one turnover, while Barber and Wyatt Bell missed a pair of contested jumpers, sealing the Bulldog victory.
MC used a balanced scoring attack that featured four Bulldogs in double figures, led by Tarrance Austin with 15 points. Rose added 14 points, three assists, and three steals, while Collin Storr scored 13 points, and finished with a career-high five assists. Jamil Hardaway rounded out the double-digit scoring with 11 points.
The Bulldogs entered the locker room at halftime, clinging to a 44-41 lead despite the Moundbuilders shooting 65.4 percent from the field. MC led by as many as nine in the first half.
A layup by Austin opened the second half on a high-note, then the Bulldogs matched their largest lead of the game with less than 14 minutes to play. However, a quick 7-0 burst by Southwestern, capped off by a triple by Ronnail Tape, pulled the Moundbuilders within 54-52.
Dallas Metzger halted the run with a basket in the paint, then a pair of baskets by KJ Marshall pushed the lead back to seven at the midway point of the final period.
But the Moundbuilders would not go quietly, exploding for a 19-6 run to grab all the momentum and take a 72-66 lead with 4:08 remaining.
Bell led the Moundbuilders in scoring, finishing with 25 points and five assists, but was forced into a game-high four turnovers. Abasolo was the only other Moundbuilder who scored in double figures, recording 13 points.
The Bulldogs shot 45.0 percent from the field, and scored 30 of their 78 points in the paint.
MC returns to Holman Fieldhouse Wednesday (Jan. 15), squaring off against Kansas Wesleyan. Tipoff is slated for 8:00 p.m.
