McPherson, Kan. – The Central Christian College men’s basketball team attempted to beat the McPherson College Bulldogs for the third year in a row in this Mayor’s Cup matchup, but ultimately fell to the Bulldogs, 76-50.
The Tigers put together a competitive first half, trailing the Bulldogs by just one point, 34-33, heading into the locker room. However, McPherson found its rhythm in the second half, outscoring Central 42-17 to secure the 76-50 victory.
Jaeden Whitten led the Tigers offensively with 15 points, shooting 7-for-12 from the field. Andruw Rondon added eight points and led Central on the glass with nine rebounds. Jayson Ward also finished with eight points, including two three-pointers, while Jerrod Mackey contributed seven points.
Central stayed within striking distance throughout the opening half, shooting an efficient 51.9 percent from the field. The Tigers connected on three shots from beyond the arc in the first half.
McPherson responded after the break, shooting 68 percent from the field in the second half. The Bulldogs used their offensive efficiency to build separation, while Central struggled to find the same rhythm offensively, shooting 29.2 percent from the field over the final 20 minutes.
McPherson was led by Korbin Gunn, who finished with a game-high 30 points, including five three-pointers. Dallas Metzger added 20 points, while Labron Wilson contributed 17 points.
Central finished the contest shooting 41.2 percent from the field and 26.7 percent from three-point range. The Tigers also recorded 27 rebounds and 13 assists.
The Tigers move to 1-2 on the season and now look ahead to this Saturday as they host Dallas Christian College for Homecoming at 6:00pm. The game will also be streamed live on the SAC Sports Network.
