ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Missouri Baptist men's basketball had trouble containing the Evangel University perimeter shooting on Saturday as the team suffered its first loss of the season 79-61.
Evangel University(1-1) came into the game looking for its first win of the season after a four-point overtime loss to NAIA No. 4 Robert Morris University. As the game got underway, the Crusaders made it apparent that MBU would have to stop an onslaught of three-point shooting.
Evangel's Brodie Wingert and Victor Agbasi were hot all day from three-point range. The duo combined to go 7-12 from behind the arc. The Crusaders took a 43-17 lead, their largest of the game, with just over two minutes remaining in the half forcing MBU to take chances. The Spartans turned the ball over 21 times in the game, seven more than Evangel's 14 which was a large part of the end result.
After the half, MBU changed its strategy, which did pay dividends. The team started Billy Bizzell, Kendall Smith rather than first-half starters Theodore King and Kalvin Lewis, which seemed to bring more energy onto the court.
The Spartans began to chip away at the lead, cutting the Evangel advantage to 14, but were not able to complete the comeback as the Crusaders held firm on defense. MBU had several chances late, but were not able to hold the potent Evanvel offense at bay.
For the Crusaders, four players finished in double digits, led by two, 16-point efforts by Wingert and Agbasi. Zach Kleine also had a big game, knocking-down 15 points while going 6-7 from the free throw line.
MBU was led on the night by LeAndre Johnson. The senior from St. Louis recorded 18 points and went 6-8 from the foul stripe. Johnson was the only player on the Missouri Baptist side to reach double figures. Johnson also posted seven rebounds, which was matched by the freshman, Smith.
Missouri Baptist will be back in action on Monday night in the final game of the three-game homestand when Mid-Continent University travels to St. Louis. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in the Carl and Deloris Petty Sports and Recreation Complex.
