ST. LOUIS, Mo. – [Box Score] In front of its home crowd for the first time this season, the Missouri Baptist men's basketball team narrowly defeated the Preachers of Concordia Seminary, 75-68. The Spartans improved to 1-0 with the victory.
Missouri Baptist had its hands full with the hot-shooting Concordia Seminary squad. The pesky Preachers hit 11-of-31 3-point shots and made 40 percent of the shots from the field.
The Spartans shot an impressive 44 percent from the field, connecting on 26-of-59 from the floor. They made just 3-of-11 from deep range, but sank all three attempts in the second half.
Senior Adrian Kuyinu took home the Hampton Inn & Suites Star of the Game honors after posting a double-double. He scored 19 points on 7-of-14 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. Kuyinu pulled down 11 rebounds, including seven in the offensive zone.
Returning AMC Co-Freshman of the Year Chris Buzzell got his first action of the season after sitting out the exhibition contest against NCAA Division I Southeast Missouri State. Buzzell started off the game a bit rusty, but ended the contest with a team-high 20 points on 7-of-15 from the floor.
Junior Stephen Buckner II recorded 16 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field. The transfer hit all six free throw shots and also pulled down five boards. The 5-10 guard played all 20 minutes of the second half.
In the first half, the Preachers were unstoppable for 3-point range. They hit 8-of-18 over the first 20 minutes of play, and built a 36-26 lead at the break. Junior Bryce Weibrecht hit two free throws with 5:20 left in the half to cut the deficit to 25-24, but Concordia Seminary drilled nine straight points to extend the lead to ten.
The Preachers would head into the locker room with a 36-26 lead, thanks to just two turnovers in the half.
Missouri Baptist outscored Concordia 10-2 over the first 2:56 of the second half to cut the Preacher lead to 38-36, but the Spartans could not break even. The teams traded baskets over the next six minutes until Concordia was able to gain control with a 50-43 lead with 10:52 left in the contest.
Chris Buzzell dialed-up from long range to cut the deficit to 52-50 with just 8:57, but the Preachers answered with a massive three on the next possession. Missouri Baptist continued to chip at the deficit, and finally tied the game at 58-58 with 5:54 left in the contest.
Kuyinu's free throws that tied the game stopped a streak of 30 consecutive minutes that Concordia held the lead.
The Spartans took the momentum from there. Less than a minute later, Buzzell drained his second three-pointer of the half to give MBU the lead for good, 61-58. Missouri Baptist would hold onto the lead when the final horn sounded.
MBU shot lights-out in the half, hitting 15-of-24 shots from the floor, sank all three 3-pointers in the half, and made 16-of-22 free throws. The Spartans also won the rebounding battle over the final 20 minutes, 22-15.
Missouri Baptist will travel to Canton, Mo. this weekend to take on No. 22 Culver-Stockton.
