By STEVE SELL
Sentinel
Sports Editor
When McPherson College’s men end a losing streak, they end it in style.
The Bulldogs finally took all that potential that recently has been on paper only and transferred it to the court here Thursday with a 92-62 rout of Saint Mary College.
The victory scissored a six-game Bulldog losing streak and it was their first KCAC win after opening with four losses.
And on this night, the Bulldogs could have beaten just about anyone, as their execution was flawless and they got down to business on the defensive end.
In fact after the game, Mac coach Roger Trimmell could find not even the tiniest morel to pick apart.
“I thought we executed very well offensively and that was probably the best defensive effort of the year,” Trimmell said. “I was very pleased with the effort. We controlled the glass and passed the ball well. It was just a very solid performance.”
The Bulldogs used a 16-2 run over the final 3:53 of the first half to build a staggering 47-24 lead and the margin ballooned to as much as 36 in the second half.
“That was a team that had been hot, as they had defeated Sterling and Iowa Wesleyan in their last two game,” Trimmell said. “That was a good win.”
Jamaal Norris came off the bench to lead the Bulldogs with 25 points, including a three-minute stretch in the second half when he scored 11. “Jamaal can score in bunches,” Trimmell said.
Kenny Romero, coming off an 18-point game on Saturday, appears to be finding his old form, as he added 21. Jose Morales had 12.
Bryan Shelley, who had 39 points in his last game, scored 17 to lead Saint Mary.
Mac, now 5-9 overall, is home again Saturday to take on Friends. The Falcons lost 62-50 Thursday to Sterling and they were without 6-9 star Antoine Tisby, who reportedly has been declared ineligible. Tisby was averaging 20 points a game and was a dominating presence on the defensive end.
Mac (92) – Morales 5 2-2 12; McDonald 4 0-0 8; Turner 3 0-0 7; Kitson 1 0-0 2; Norris 9 7-7 25; Hooks 4 0-0 8; Cox 3 0-0 7; Romero 9 3-7 21; Gustafson 0 2-2 2. Totals – 38 14-18 92. 3-pointers – Turner 1, Cox.
Saint Mary (62) – Burkin 5 0-0 10; Arter 3 4-5 10; Suter 1 0-0 4; Thomson 7 0-0 16; Shelley 8 0-0 17; Fouts 3 0-0 6. Totals – 27 4-5 62. 3-pointers – Thompson 2, Suter 1, Shelley 1.