Mac men rally to snare win

By Steve Sell, Sentinel Staff Writer

Chalk up another victory for the vaunted point zone.

With his team trailing Ottawa 36-31 at halftime Saturday night, McPherson College men's coach Roger Trimmell made the decision to break out what has turned into a spider web of a defense, as he discarded the man-to-man for the point zone.

The Braves wound up flailing away in the second half, going 1 of 16 from 3-point, as the Bulldogs rallied for an important 66-62 victory at the Sport Center.

"That was a big win for us," said Trimmell, whose team is now 6-6 in the KCAC and 11-11 overall. "We really want to avoid that play-in game, so we can't afford to lose at home. Ottawa is a tough, physical team. They pounded us on the boards."

The Bulldogs won the game despite being out-rebounded 43-25, as 2002 KCAC Player of the Year Tony Porter led the way with 10. "He's just a man," said Trimmell, who added he's pleased Porter is a senior.

The Braves led by as many as nine in the second half before the Bulldogs finally got it going. Kenny Romero tied the game at 50-all with 11:32 to go on a pair of free throws, and he then put Mac ahead to stay moments later with a basket. The Bulldogs had a 23-6 run in the second half, but Ottawa came back and got as close as 62-60 before Mac's Roy McDonald and Jamaal Norris both hit a pair of free throws for the final margin.

Romero finished with 18 points to lead the Bulldogs, while steady Brian Hooks added 17 and McDonald scored 14. The Bulldogs were 28 of 54 from the field and again shot it well from the line by going 12 of 13.

Ottawa was led by Porter with 17 and Ricky Bulmer added 13. Inman product Sam Thiessen scored 4 points for the Braves.

The Bulldogs and Braves are now tied for sixth in the KCAC, but are just a game out of third, as Southwestern, Tabor and Sterling are all 7-5.

The Bulldogs are back home Thursday to take on Southwestern in a key contest.

Mac (66) -- Morales 4 0-0 8; McDonald 5 4-4 14; Turner 1 0-0 3; Norris 2 2-3 6; Hooks 7 2-2 17; Romero 7 4-4 18. Totals -- 28 12-13 66. 3-pointers -- Turner 1, Hooks 1.

Ottawa (62) -- Siggal 3 2-2 11; Lickteig 1 1-5 3; Baker 1 0-0 2; McCoy 2 0-0 6; Porter 7 3-6 17; Zammer 2 0-0 4; Thiessen 2 0-0 4; Bulmer 6 1-4 13. Totals -- 25 7-12 62. 3-pointers -- Siggal 3, McCoy 2.