Tabor men drop opener to NOSU

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN TOM STOPPEL
The Tabor College men’s basketball team opened its season in Alva, Okla., Saturday night with a 66-52 loss to Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

Coach Don Brubacher said the outcome of the game came down to one basic thing: poor shooting.

“We absolutely did not shoot the ball effectively,” Brubacher said. “Our offense produced some really nice shots, but we were unable to finish once we got to the basket.”

As a result, Tabor connected on just 17 of 63 shots (27 percent).

The Bluejays’ most consistent offensive weapon was sophomore guard Andy Brubacher, who nailed five of eight 3-pointers to lead the team with 19 points.

Brad Gattis finished as the only other player in double figures with 10 points, but he hit only four of 12 shots including one of six from beyond the 3-point line.

“Andy was our lone offensive threat,” Brubacher said. “The rest of the team hit just two of 14 3-pointers and 10 of 41 from inside the line.”

Tabor trailed 30-24 at halftime and kept the Rangers in sight. But Brubacher said his team gave up too many second-chance shots.

“Our rebounding wasn’t what we hoped it would be,” he said. “Northwestern had 23 offensive rebounds, and that is just not acceptable. We won’t win many games if we continue to rebound that way.”

Brubacher said his defense did a decent job.

“Allowing just 66 points to this team on the road isn’t too bad,” he said. “Defensively, we did all right, but we can’t win games if we don’t score more points.”

The Bluejays held NWOSU to 37 percent shooting from the field, but the Rangers scored 17 second-chance points to just two for Tabor.

NWOSU out-rebounded Tabor, 59 to 43.

Brubacher said he took some positives from the contest.

“I was happy with the effort the men put forth,” he said. “I think they proved they want to win games and they’re willing to play hard.

“We simply need to get better at putting points on the board.”

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