Strong second half powers Garden City past Kansas Wesleyan

Garden City, KS-DaJion Humphrey scored 25 points, Jaborri McGhee added 22, and Garden City pulled away to beat Kansas Wesleyan, 91-68 Friday night at Conestoga Arena in their final tuneup before conference play begins next week. The Broncbusters are now 4-0. 

"Our effort to begin this game was embarrassing," Head Coach, Rusty Elmore said. "We had no energy, and we were letting guys go by us."

The Broncbusters shot 50 percent or better for the second time this season, produced 21 assists, and scored 50 points in the paint as they outscored the Coyotes, 46-32 over the final 20 minutes. 

But this was far from a memorable performance for Elmore's bunch. Garden City was down five four minutes into the game after Jameer Clemons made a layup to make it 9-4. The Broncbusters promptly responded with a 11-2 surge to take a four-point edge. 

"Kansas Wesleyan hit some shots, and all of at the sudden we are down five in the first half," Elmore said. "We got things together in the second half, but we have to be better."

The Coyotes kept things close for most of the first half before the Broncbusters closed the period by scoring six out of the final seven points including Larry Olayinka's jumper that gave the home team a 45-36 halftime lead. 

"We better fix the effort quick, or else it's going to be a long year," Elmore said. 

The game remained close early in the second half with Kansas Wesleyan getting as close as two after Grant Dye nailed a triple to make it 55-53 with 12:44 left. But that's as close as the visitors got. Aundre Polk answered with a layup on the other end, McGhee scored six straight points, and Garden City responded with a 25-3 run that gave the Broncbusters a 78-58 advantage. They led by as many as 27 in the final four minutes. 

"Our energy was much better in the second half," Elmore said. "They still made some shots, but I liked how we finished."

Humphrey continued his scorching hot start to the season, hitting 8-of-15 shots including 4-of-6 from long range in 35 efficient minutes. McGhee pulled down six rebounds and dished out six assists, and Olayinka had 10 off the bench for Garden City. 

Clemons led Kansas Wesleyan with 14 points.