ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Missouri Baptist mens's basketball team started off the 2012-2013 season with a 70-64 win against the visiting Benedictine College Ravens. The Spartans kicked off the season opener in front of a packed and energized gymnasium at MBU.
The Spartans started off strong with a 3-pointer from Matt Holmes and quickly MBU had a 5-0 lead. The Ravens battled back and tied the game at 12 half way through the first half but MBU did not back down.
The largest lead of the first half for the Spartans was five and it bounced right around that way most of the half, and MBU took a 33-30 lead into the half.
Kalvin Lewis hit a 3-pointer to start off the second half and keep the momentum in MBU's favor. Holmes added a layup and the Spartans extended their lead to eight, 38-30.
The Spartans did not let up. With 13:18 to go in the game Lewis added another 3-pointer and put MBU up by 15, 55-40. However, the Ravens did not give up and tested every bit of the Spartans game plan.
The Ravens batted back to tighten the score at 56-53 with 8:26 to go in the game after a pair of free throws by Charlie Wallrapp.
Behind an energized crowd, the Spartans forced three quick turnovers in a row by the Ravens and capitalized on each one. MBU got the score back to an eight point lead 63-55 with 5:18 to go in the game.
The Spartans maintained a seven point lead 67-60 with 1:17 to go in the game forcing the Ravens to take a timeout and see if they could mount a comeback.
The Ravens quickly scored a layup out of the timeout and cut the lead to five for MBU. LeAndre' Johnson had the answer with a layup up his own to pull the Spartans back up by seven 69-62.
The Spartans went on the 70-64 victory proving that they were just too much for the Ravens to handle.
Johnson led the Spartans with 21 points and added four rebounds. Matt Holmes was second for MBU with 12 points. Garrison Plummer led the rebounding attack with eight.
MBU moves to 1-0 after winning the season opener. The men look to continue the success this Sat. Nov. 3 as the Spartans take on the visiting Evangel University. This game is a Spartan Blue-Out Night and game time at MBU is set for 4:00.
