ST. LOUIS - [AMC Bracket]
2015 AMC Championship Tournament- First Round
(10) Missouri Baptist at (7) Benedictine-Springfield
SITE: Gold's Gym
LOCATION: Springfield, Ill.
TIP: 7:00 p.m.
The Missouri Baptist men's basketball team has seen a rollercoaster of ups-and-down throughout the season, but will head into the American Midwest Conference tournament with momentum. Missouri Baptist, the No. 10 seed, will travel to take on No. 7 Benedictine-Springfield on Tuesday.
The Spartans won the last regular season contest of the season on Saturday, defeating William Woods in overtime, 80-68. MBU had to overcome a five point deficit with 1:11 left in the contest without leading scorer, Chris Buzzell. He battled a sickness and played just seven minutes in the game. Junior Stephen Buckner led the Spartans with 21 points in the contest.
The week before, the Spartans were a layup away from taking No. 9 Columbia into overtime. Instead, the Spartans fell to the Cougars, 77-73.
The game prior, MBU missed the potential game-winning layup against Park. In that contest, the Pirates defeated the Spartans, 79-76.
Missouri Baptist (6-23, 5-17 AMC) and Benedictine-Springfield (13-17, 10-12 AMC) split the regular season meetings this season. The Spartans fell in the road game to the Bulldogs, 79-70, while winning the home matchup, 77-70. The winner of the contest will take on No. 2 Columbia. The Cougars earned a bye after finishing the AMC season with an 18-4 record.
No. 1 seed Freed-Hardeman earned the bye after completing the AMC season with a 20-2 record. The Lions will take on the winner of No. 8 William Woods/ No. 9 Hannibal-LaGrange.
No. 3 Lindenwood-Belleville picked-up a bye in the first round and will take on the winner of No. 6 Lyon/No. 11 Harris-Stowe.
No. 4 Williams Baptist will host the winner of No. 5 Park/No. 12 St. Louis Pharmacy.
All First Round matchups will begin at 7 pm on Tuesday, with Quarterfinal matchups set to tip off on Thursday at 7 pm.
Semifinal contests begin at 4 pm on Saturday and the AMC tournament champion will be crowned on Tuesday, March 10.
The Spartans fell to William Woods in the AMC tournament First Round last season. In eight seasons under head coach Ray Farrell, the Spartans have advanced to the AMC tournament championship contest two times. During the 2012-13 campaign, MBU advanced to the AMC tournament Semifinals, before falling to Park to end the season.
