ST. LOUIS – [Box Score] In a fast-paced game featuring 182 between the two schools, No. 24 Culver-Stockton defeated the Missouri Baptist men's basketball team, 108-74.
Missouri Baptist (1-2) shot 35 percent from the field in the contest, making 27-of-76 shots. The Wildcats shot an outstanding 60 percent from the floor and also won the rebounding battle, 48-40. The two teams combined for 45 turnovers over the 40 minutes of play.
Senior guard Adrian Kuyinu led the Spartans with 15 points on 4-of-10 from the floor, and 6-of-9 from the free throw line. He also posted six rebounds.
Stephen Buckner II netted 10 points on 3-of-10 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. He led MBU with four assists, while also swiping two steals.
Bryce Weibrecht led the Spartans with seven rebounds, including three in the offensive zone. He scored 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field and hit 1-of-4 from deep territory.
Missouri Baptist trailed by just eight points at the half after shooting 41 percent from the floor. The Wildcats scored at a blistering rate, making 59 percent of their shots from the field in the half.
The Spartans trailed by ten points with 12:08 left in the half, but scored ten straight points to cut the deficit to 24-22 with 9:30 left.
Culver-Stockton extended the lead to double-digits and held it until Chris Buzzell drained a three with 32 seconds left in the half to cut the deficit to 50-42. The Spartans had a chance to cut the Wildcat lead to just five points, but Buzzell's three attempt at the buzzer rimmed out.
Kuyinu, Buzzell, and Weibrecht each drained nine points at the break.
The second half was less eventful in terms of momentum. The Wildcats couldn't miss in the final 20 minutes, hitting on 19-of-31 shots from the floor. The Spartans shot just .297 in the second half, making 11-of-37 shots from the floor.
Missouri Baptist was outscored in the half, 58-32.
Freshman Chance Welch caught fire late in the half, sinking 3-of-6 from the floor and 2-of-3 from 3-point range en route to eight points in 13 second-half minutes.
The Spartans will travel to Rolla, Mo. on Saturday to take on Missouri S & T in exhibition play.
