Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009

Defense, rebounding lead MNU men past Ozarks

MidAmerica Nazarene's men's basketball team held College of the Ozarks to a 38-percent clip from the field and had a 44-29 rebounding edge. That spelled a 67-55 victory Saturday in the second game of the Pioneer Classic at Bell Family Arena at the Cook Center.

Behind Brenton Bell, who poured in a game-high 22 points with a game-best six assists, MidAmerica improved to 4-0.

The Pioneers, who are ranked No. 22 in the preseason NAIA Division I Men's Basketball poll, won it with defense, limiting the Bobcats to 19-for-50 shooting from the field.

Bell, a 2006 Olathe South graduate, was named the Heart of America Athletic Conference Player of the Week for the his efforts. He averaged 18.5 points, 7.5 assists, 2.5 steals, and one block in MidAmerica's two victories last week.

Leading by only six at the break, the Pioneers pulled away thanks to its rebounding in the second half.

Andrew Crotty, another 2006 Olathe South grad, grabbed a game-high eight rebounds and dished four assists, while Ben Swinger added 14 points and six rebounds. Bryce Anderson chipped in seven boards.

Rustin Dowd, a freshman guard and 2009 Olathe South graduate, went for 10 points and five assists.

| Tod Palmer, todpalmer@theolathenews.com

Pioneer Classic

At Bell Family Arena inside the Cook Center

MIDAMERICA NAZARENE 67, OZARKS 55

College of the Ozarks (2-4): Jared Howerton 1-8 2-2 5, Scott McElvain 3-6 1-1 7, Dustin Todd 2-4 5-7 9, Mike Wiebe 4-7 2-4 10, Alex Williams 1-6 0-0 3, Spencer Blair 0-1 0-0 0, Craig Campbell 2-3 0-1 4, Dustin Price 0-1 2-2 2, Weston Wiebe 2-5 2-2 6, Derrick Williams 4-9 1-1 9. Totals 19-50 15-20 55.

MidAmerica Nazarene (4-0): Brenton Bell 8-18 4-6 22, Andrew Crotty 1-6 1-4 3, Rustin Dowd 3-10 4-10 10, Ben Swinger 5-9 4-4 14, Lukas Weigel 1-3 2-4 4, Ethan Alexander 0-0 0-0 0, Bryce Anderson 2-4 0-0 4, Keith McCullough 3-4 0-0 6, Vince Thompkins 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 25-57 15-28 67.

Halftime: MNU 33-27. Three-point goals: COO 2-14 (A. Williams 1-2, Howerton 1-8, Blair 0-1, M. Wiebe 0-3), MNU 2-9 (Bell 2-6, Dowd 0-3). Rebounds: COO 29 (Howerton 8), MNU 44 (Crotty 8). Assists: COO 12 (W. Wiebe 4), MNU 18 (Bell 6). Turnovers: COO 14, MNU 13.

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