Tuesday night the Barclay College Men’s Basketball squad traveled north to McPherson, KS to open up their season against NAIA Division II Central Christian College with great expectations. They returned two starters from a year ago as well as six other players with game experience at BC to go along with a host of new players.

Prior to the game, fifth year Head Coach Royce Bryan commented, “This group is a great collection of returners, veterans, youth, size, and athleticism. They have been extremely coachable so far and I am really excited to see how they continue to grow both on an off the court. Come March, we will see what kind of a product we have.”

With their first test of the season against a larger school, the Bears knew that it would take a pretty flawless game to have a chance to pull off the upset. However, the Bears came out of the gaits with vengeance and took an early 7-2 lead before the athleticism of the Tigers began to reveal itself. By halftime Central Christian found themselves in control of the game 50-31 and they were able to maintain control of the game throughout the second to give the Bears their first loss of the season, 56-89. CCC outscored the Bears 31-3 in second chance points.

Junior transfer Charles Brodhead (Lompoc, CA), led the Bears in scoring with 17 points. Brodhead returns to the Bears after playing his first two season in Haviland from 2011-2013 and then taking a year off from basketball. In addition Sophomore Cole Hibler (Ponca City, OK) dished out 5 assists and Junior Robbie Gray (McCloud, OK) grabbed 5 rebounds.

Next the Bears will play two exhibition games in Plainview, TX against Wayland Baptist University on Friday, November 7th at 9:00 PM CST and Saturday, November 8th at 1:00 PM.