Jays extend KCAC streak to six

Malik Brooks shoots for two during the second half against McPherson Saturday. Brooks scored 13 points in Tabor?s 90-72 win.The 15th-ranked Tabor College men?s basketball team won its sixth consecutive conference game last week after defeating Oklahoma Wesleyan and McPherson.

McPherson?Tabor defeated the Bulldogs, 90-72, Saturday.

?I thought we defended a lot better than we?re used to,? coach Micah Ratzlaff said. ?We held them to 30-some points in the first half. That?s good for us, compared to the last couple of games. We were consistent on defense the whole game.?

The Bluejays trailed by one point a few times early on, but a free throw by Lance Carter tied the game at 7 and Tullio Parry drained a trey that put Tabor in front for good. Davaghndre Jones and Kyle Baker combined for a 7-0 run that gave Tabor its first double-digit lead, 22-11.

McPherson trimmed the margin to four before Jones scored to start an 8-0 run capped by a Carter three-pointer that put Tabor in front, 33-21. The Bulldogs closed within six with a pair of three-pointers and Tabor?s lead fluctuated between single and double figures. Alan Urrutia drained a three-pointer to give Tabor a 43-33 lead at halftime.

The fluctuation continued in the second half, as Tabor built its lead to 15, 52-37, after D?Marco Smith scored a two- and three-point basket. Three and a half minutes later, though, the Bluejays? lead was back in single digits, 54-47.

The teams traded baskets. With Tabor leading, 64-55, Jonathan Gibson scored to ignite a 10-2 run that put the Bluejays firmly in front, 74-57. Kyle Baker scored two treys during that stretch.

Tabor maintained a double-digit advantage the rest of the way and built to its largest lead, 88-68, when Malik Brooks hit a three with 34 seconds left. Tabor cruised to the 18-point win.

Five Bluejays scored in double figures. Carter led the way with a double-double 17 points and 14 rebounds. Brooks scored 13 points, Jones 12, and Smith and Baker 11 apiece.

Ratzlaff said Tabor needs to limit its turnovers?the Bluejays committed 19 in the game.

?We?ve got to learn how to take advantage of our runs when we get up 10, 12 points and never get down any more than that and continue to push forward,? he said. ?But it?s a conference win. I?m not complaining.?

Oklahoma Wesleyan?Tabor defeated the Eagles, 91-82, Thursday.

The teams remained within four points the duration of the first half, which included nine ties.

Jonathan Gibson scored the game?s first four points to give Tabor the early lead, but Oklahoma Wesleyan claimed it. The lead changed hands as neither team established much separation.

Tabor led, 29-26, but OKWU used a 7-0 run to take the lead. The Bluejays tied the game twice after that but did not jump in front. The Eagles clung to a narrow, 41-40 advantage at halftime.

With the Bluejays trailing, 48-45, Malik Brooks drained a three-pointer to ignite an 8-0 run. Brooks capped it with another three, and Tabor never trailed again.

The Eagles closed the gap to one a few times, the last at 59-58. From there, Tabor outscored OKWU 10-2 thanks to seven points from Alan Urrutia and a three-pointer from Lance Carter that put Tabor in front, 69-60, with 10:51 to play. The closest the Eagles got after that was within three, and the Bluejays ended the game with a 5-0 run to claim the nine-point win.

?Oklahoma Wesleyan came in and played extremely hard,? coach Micah Ratzlaff said. ?We?re getting everybody?s best effort, and we should. Luckily we showed up and gave a good effort, but they had a couple guards that were really good getting to the hole. They hit some big shots, and it was close for almost the whole game, but we just found ways to get it done. We kept our lead and we hit some free throws. We needed that. I thought that was the difference.?

Tabor went to the free-throw line 41 times and made 31 attempts (76 percent). Carter and Brooks shared top scoring honors with 19 points apiece. Urrutia added 11 points and D?Marco Smith 10.

Coming?Tabor (6-0, 12-2) was scheduled to play at Sterling (4-3, 5-6) Tuesday before the Christmas break. The Bluejays will resume play Jan. 1 by hosting Missouri Valley in the Holiday Classic. Game time is set for 8 p.m. Following a 7 p.m. game against York Jan. 2, Tabor will return to KCAC play Jan. 7 at Saint Mary.

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