Mac cagers sweep Spires

By STEVE SELL, Sentinel Sports Editor

For a half Thursday, Roger Trimmell's worst fears were being realized.

Last-place Saint Mary had played Trimmell's McPherson College Bulldogs to a 31-31 halftime standoff.

But the Bulldogs, knowing this was a game they could ill-afford to lose, shackled the Spires in the second half for a 62-53 victory at the Sport Center.

Mac is now 7-4 in the KCAC, tied for third with Sterling. Ottawa, the other team which had been in third, lost Thursday to fall a game behind. Tabor and Friends still lead the way at 9-2 and 8-3 respectively.

Kenny Romero scored 15 of the Bulldogs' last 19 points and had 19 overall to help Mac move to 15-6 overall. Art Soto had 11 key points off the bench.

"They got the game in the tempo they wanted," said Trimmell, whose team played without its offensive engine Cody Rierson, out with the flu. His replacement, Jordan Carter, also was ailing, but the Bulldogs had just enough to avoid the upset.

"We had that one spurt in the second half and that basically did it," Trimmell said. "We did a good job on the boards. Brian Hooks and Lee Gustafson had 10 rebounds apiece."

Mac now has a huge stretch of games. It goes to Sterling Saturday, Friends Thursday and then has Tabor here the following Saturday.

"That's going to tell us a lot, whether we're contenders or not," Trimmell said.

Mac men (62) -- Cox 2 0-0 6; McDonald 3 0-1 6; Carter 1 1-2 3; Hooks 4 2-2 10; Soto 4 0-0 11; Romero 6 7-10 19; Gustafson 3 1-2 7. Totals -- 23 11-17 62. 3-pointers -- Soto 3, Cox 2.

Saint Mary (53) -- Zimmerlink 5 0-0 11; Jones 5 0-0 12; Hunter 1 1-2 3; Weatherly 3 0-0 6; Rucker 2 1-1 5; Fouts 5 2-2 13; Dirshe 1 1-2 3. Totals -- 22 5-7 53. 3-pointers -- Jones 2, Zimmerlink 1, Fouts 1.