Tabor picks up two more victories at Friends

The Tabor College basketball teams wrapped up a three-game road stint by sweeping Friends Saturday. The victories kept both Bluejay squads perfect in KCAC play at 13-0.

Women?Tabor won its second road game of the week by defeating the No. 25 Falcons, 76-67.

The Bluejays relied heavily on the three-ball, shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc in the game (13-26), including a blistering 62.5 percent in the first half (10-16).

The game was a three-point showcase from the start, as each team made a pair of threes in the first 2:17 for an early tie. Tabor?s two came courtesy of Taylor Hurd. Friends used a 7-0 run to build a 13-6 lead, but from there, Tabor caught fire. Taylor Deniston drained back-to-back threes to ignite an 18-0 Bluejay flourish to end the first quarter. Kayla Wilgers made a pair of treys during that stretch, and the period ended with Tabor in front, 24-13.

Tabor outscored Friends, 21-17 in the second quarter. Kaleigh Troxell led the effort by draining three three-pointers. The Bluejays ended the half on an 8-0 run to enjoy a 45-30 lead at halftime.

Friends burst out of the locker room with a 15-4 run that narrowed the gap to 49-45 at the 3:42 mark. Tabor?s scoring drought lasted more than four minutes, before Kayla Wilgers broke it with a three-pointer at 2:59. The period ended with Tabor in front, 56-49.

Tabor regained a double-digit lead, 63-53, when Troxell made her fourth three-pointer, and the Bluejays built their lead to 71-57 with 2:24 to play. But with Friends picking up the pressure, the Falcons outscored Tabor 10-5 after that, trimming the final margin to nine.

Troxell led the Bluejays with 16 points on 4-for-5 shooting beyond the arc. Tena Loewen scored 11 points, and Jurnee Reid had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Men?Tabor earned its 13th-straight conference win on the road at Friends Saturday, 63-60. It was the Bluejays? seventh KCAC game to be decided by four points or fewer this season.

Malik Brooks, the game?s leading scorer with 24 points on the night, hit his stride early, draining the first of six three-pointers just 50 seconds in. Brooks made two more treys in a two-minute span, and Tabor later enjoyed a 6-0 run?which included a D?Marco Smith dunk off an assist by Lance Carter?for its largest lead of the game, 26-13.

The Falcons trimmed the margin to eight by halftime, 35-27.

Friends further cut Tabor?s lead with a 7-2 run after intermission, drawing within 37-34. The Falcons later tied the game at 40. Kyle Baker made a three-pointer, but after that, Friends took a 46-43 lead.

The lead changed hands a few times. Brooks made a three to tie the game at 50, and Tabor built a 54-52 advantage only to relinquish it, 57-54, with 1:48 left. Brooks made his sixth trey to tie the game with 1:34 left and Gibson blocked Friends? next shot. Carter scored to put Tabor in front, 59-57.

Following a Friends miss, Brooks made two charity shots to give the Bluejays a four-point cushion. The Falcons knocked down a three with 11 seconds left to draw within 61-60, but Brooks made two more free throws to put Tabor up by the final, three-point margin.

Two Falcon three-point attempts missed their mark in the final 3 seconds, giving Tabor the victory.

Smith joined Brooks in double-digit scoring with 17 points.

Coming?Tabor will return home Wednesday when the Bluejays welcome Bethany to Hillsboro. The women will play at 6 p.m. The men will play at 8 p.m.

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

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