Bluejays split first games of Tabor Classic

The Tabor College basketball teams split their first games of the Tabor Classic Friday. The women lost to Doane, 52-43, while the men defeated Culver-Stockton, 86-75. Mallory Zuercher drives into the lane and looks to score during the second half against Doane Friday. Zuercher was Tabor?s leading scorer with 12 points in the Bluejays? 52-43 loss.

Women?Competing in their first game of the new year at the Tabor Classic, the Bluejays suffered a 52-43 loss to No. 21 Doane Friday.

Having previously defeated the Tigers on their home court the first of November, Tabor looked to complete the sweep. But it was not to be, as lack of execution and an offensive struggle the duration of the game left the Bluejays trailing when the final buzzer sounded. Tabor shot just 28.3 percent from the field in the game (13-46).

Neither team gained much distance in a low-scoring first half. Tabor used a 6-0 burst early to stake their largest lead of the night, 8-4, after Mallory Zuercher made two free throws. After a 12-12 tie, Doane jumped back in front and gained its largest margin of the half, 16-13, at the 5:29 mark. Tabor regained a 19-16 margin, but Doane scored the final five points of the half for a 21-19 advantage at halftime.

Tabor managed just three points in the first 10 minutes of the second half, prompting coach Shawn Reed to call timeout with his team trailing 31-22. Zuercher responded by driving into the lane and drawing a foul. She made Tabor?s next three points from the free-throw line, which was the start of a 8-2 Bluejay run that brought Tabor within 33-30 with 6:36 to play. Tabor never got closer than that, however, and the Tigers eventually extended their to 10 with less than a minute to go, creating a deficit too large to overcome.

Zuercher led with 12 points. Tonisha Dean added 11. Dewayne Biggs makes a basket during the first half against Culver-Stockton Friday that brought Tabor within 26-16. Biggs was the game?s high scorer with 26 points in Tabor?s 86-75 victory.

Men?It was a tale of two halves Friday in Tabor?s 11-point victory over NAIA Division I opponent Culver-Stockton.

Tabor trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half and led only once when Andrew Thomas scored the game?s first point at the free-throw line. From there, Culver-Stockton built a 12-3 lead before Dewayne Biggs drained a three-pointer, the first of six Bluejay threes in the first half. The Wildcats took their first double-digit lead, 22-11, at the 10:56 mark and extended it to 29-16 with a three at 8:09.

Trailing 36-24, a string of seven put Tabor within 36-31, but the Wildcats enjoyed a 43-35 lead at halftime.

The Bluejays came out of the break on fire with a 10-2 burst that included back-to-back threes by John Jedneak and Malik Brooks and culminated in a Thomas dunk that tied the game at 45.

The teams battled neck-and-neck until Tabor took the lead for good with 13:17 left in the game. Leading 52-51, Tabor outscored the Wildcats 13-2 for a double-digit, 65-53, margin when JT Nemit hit a three at the 8:40 mark. The Bluejays kept their foot on the gas the rest of the way, maintaining a double-digit advantage to win by 11.

Biggs led all scorers with 26 points. Nemit added 11, and Thomas and Brooks each scored 10. Thomas pulled down 12 rebounds as well.

Coming?Tabor will return to action Saturday to conclude the Classic. The women will play Benedictine at 5 p.m., and the men will face Missouri Valley at 7 p.m.

For scores and updates during games, follow Janae on Twitter @janaerem13

Written By
More from Janae Rempel
Marion drops first series
The Marion softball team opened the 2019 season with a pair of...
Read More