The MBU men's basketball team fell to 8-9 overall after opening American Midwest Conference play with two losses last week. The Spartans lost to Harris-Stowe State University at home on Thursday and the NAIA's #12 McKendree University on the road on Saturday.The Spartans opened AMC play with a 68-71 loss to Harris-Stowe on Thursday. The Spartans battled from behind most of the contest, but finally took the lead 68-67 with :55 remaining, off a three-point basket by senior guard Brandon Roberson. That lead quickly disappeared, as the Hornets' Marcell Anderson sank a bucket with :30 to go to make the score 69-68. In the final seconds, an MBU foul sent HSSU's Jarvis Walker to the foul line. Walker sank both attempts to set the score at 71-68. Roberson's last second shot attempt just missed, as the Hornets (10-8, 2-1) took the victory. Roberson led all scorers with 28 points.

On Saturday, the Spartans traveled to number 12 McKendree University for a much tougher match-up. The Bearcats, (15-5, 4-0), held just a one-point lead at the half, ahead 31-30. McKendree, who shot 51% from the field, out-scored the Spartans by 24 in the second half to win the game 85-60. Roberson again led all scorers with 21 points.

Up next, MBU will travel to Columbia, Mo. to face a struggling Columbia College (6-13, 0-3) on Thursday, January 21st.