Pride close out home opening 75-68 win over McPherson College

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Starting their season 2-2 after four-straight road games, home cooking was just what the Clarke University men's basketball team needed as they earned a 75-68 win over McPherson College in their first game at the Kehl Center.

It was big home debut performances for new members of the Pride in Jacob Fierst (18), Biggie Luster (13), and Chandler Dean (11) as those players were three of the four scorers in double figures for the Pride. Luster was outstanding in the first half, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the field including hitting both of his two attempted three-point shots for 12 points in the opening 20 minutes.

Luster's hot first half was even hindered by picking up two fouls in the half as some of that offensive production was missed to end the half as a 35-25 Clarke lead dwindled to a 35-34 lead entering halftime after a 9-0 Bulldogs run to end the half.

The second half was Keith Johnson's time to shine as he scored 16 of his game-high tying 18 points in the second frame on 6-of-9 shooting from the field and going 4-for-7 from three-point range. He and Jordan Lake really boosted their game in the second half as Lake scored eight points in the half, to finish with a stat-stuffing nine points, nine rebounds, and seven assists in the game.

For the Bulldogs, Ben Pyle and Jason Okoro tied for the game high with 18 points as Okoro used a slashing game around the lane as a guard, ending at 7-of-14 from the field, and Pyle, the forward, used an outside in game to finish 4-of-9 from deep.

With the win, Clarke men's basketball will move onto their Saturday matchup against the winner of the opening game of the Holiday Inn Classic in No. 14 Marian University (Ind.) Saturday afternoon for a 3:30 p.m. CT start in the Kehl Center.