Bulldogs rally from 16 down for 81-73 triumph

By STEVE SELL, Sentinel Sports Editor

McPherson College's Bulldogs have found a sure-fire recipe for success.

1) Get down by a huge margin to get the other team overconfident.

2) Get out of the man-to-man defense and switch to a point zone.

3) Make a huge rally to get the fans into the game.

4) Leave the court with a victory.

The Bulldogs followed the recipe to the letter here Thursday night, overcoming a 16-point second-half deficit to hand Southwestern an 81-73 setback in a key KCAC game for both teams.

Both teams are now 7-6 in the KCAC and one game out of third place. The Bulldogs, in last place at the holiday break at 0-4, have won seven of their last nine KCAC games.

"We had them right where we wanted them," quipped McPherson coach Roger Trimmell. "I don't know why we have to get so far behind before we start playing. That was a very big win for us. Southwestern has been playing some of the best basketball in the conference."

The Moundbuilders certainly did for about 25 minutes. They shot lights-out in the first half, building up a 39-30 lead. And then they opened the second half with a 9-2 run to lead 48-32 with 18:27 to go. Kalan Powers of Wamego, which is Trimmell's hometown, was on an amazing roll for the Builders, making 3-pointers from every distance imaginable, most of them bringing rain without touching the net.

But as has been the case in recent home games, the Bulldogs went to their point zone defense. And, amazingly, it worked again.

And the Bulldogs, who did not have a 3-pointer in the first half, started to find the long-distance range in the second half. The deficit began to melt, and the Bulldogs finally caught and passed the Builders on Roy McDonald's 3-pointer with 6:17 to go, 66-65.

Southwestern quickly regained a 3-point lead at 69-66, but it was all Bulldogs the rest of the way. They took the lead for good at 71-69 on a pair of Kenny Romero free throws, and then closed out the game with a 10-4 run, with Jamaal Norris coming up big.

Norris made the key shot of the game as with time almost out on the shot clock and Mac holding a 75-73 lead, he buried a 3-pointer as the violation buzzer went off. And later for good measure, he threw down a dunk at the final buzzer.

The Bulldogs' bench also came up big.

"Lee Gustafson came in and gave us a lot of energy and Tim Cox did a good job," Trimmell said.

Romero and McDonald led the Bulldogs with 20 points apiece and Norris finished with 15. Mac was 0 of 6 from 3-point in the first half, but made 7 of 10 in the second half. For the game, Mac had only 7 turnovers and again showed great free throw form, making 10 of 11.

Powers, who had 31 points in the game's first 30 minutes, did not score the rest of the way and finished by making 8 of 14 treys.

"I think he got tired of scoring," Trimmell said. "He put on an amazing performance. And he's a Wamego guy."

Cory Snider added a double-double for the Builders with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

The Bulldogs, now 12-11 overall, have a huge mental challenge Saturday when they travel to Leavenworth to take on last-place Saint Mary, a team the Bulldogs buried the first time.

"That's the first thing we talked about after the game," Trimmell said. "We've got to be ready to play. They have played people tough at home."

Saint Mary is 1-13 in KCAC play after being one of the top teams last year.

Mac (81) -- Morales 3 0-0 7; McDonald 8 1-1 20; Turner 1 0-0 2; Norris 6 2-2 15; Hooks 2 1-2 6; Cox 3 0-0 7; Romero 8 4-4 20; Gustafson 1 2-2 4. Totals -- 32 10-11 81. 3-pointers -- McDonald 3, Morales 1, Norris 1, Hooks 1, Cox 1.

Southwestern (73) -- Titus 2 1-2 6; Powers 11 1-1 31; Busby 1 0-0 3; Marquez 1 0-0 2; Hendricks 1 0-0 2; Annis 3 0-0 7; Snider 7 0-0 14; Dunbar 2 4-6 8. Totals -- 28 6-9 73. 3-pointers -- Powers 8, Titus 1, Busby 1, Annis 1.