ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] Stephen Buckner scored 14 second-half points and Chris Buzzell added 12 to help Missouri Baptist erase a five-point halftime deficit and defeat Harris-Stowe State 76-71 Saturday afternoon on the road.

The strong play of Buckner and Buzzell helped the Spartans (11-6, 6-3) construct a more efficient and cleaner final 20 minutes. Harris-Stowe (8-8, 4-5) forced 11 Spartan turnovers in the first half and limited the navy and white to 10 field goals on just 41.7 percent shooting.

Buckner scored the first six points of the second half to give the Spartans a 35-34 lead with 18:14 remaining, their first since leading 4-0 to start the game. After trailing by as many as seven and a majority of the first half, Missouri Baptist traded the lead with Harris-Stowe throughout the next eight minutes.

Three consecutive 3-pointers helped Missouri Baptist string together a 9-0 run and turn a deficit into a 53-45 lead with 8:37 to go. Luke Call hit the first, Buzzell followed with another on the next possession and Jared White knocked the third one down complete the run. Buzzell scored all 12 of his points in the second half on 4-of-6 shooting. White added 14 points, including two 3-pointers.

The Hornets responded with a 5-0 run to cut the lead to three, but the Spartans had an answer. Buckner and Buzzell outscored Harris-Stowe 7-0 over the next 1:40 to give Missouri Baptist a 60-50 advantage with 5:46 left in the game, all from the free-throw line. Buckner, who finished with a team-high 17 points, shot 7-of-8 from the charity stripe for the game.

David Gabrovsek hit a huge 3-pointer with 1:20 left to put Missouri Baptist ahead 72-65. Jalen Fletcher answered with a three of his own to cut the Spartan lead back to four, but Buckner made a huge play the very next possession. The senior found Gabrovsek wide open under the basket for an easy layup to give MBU a 74-68 lead with 24 seconds left.

Harris-Stowe missed a 3-pointer its next possession and White hit 1-of-2 free throws on the ensuing possession to make it a three-possession game and virtually seal the win for the Spartans.

Missouri Baptist shot 60.9 percent from the field in the second half on 14-of-23 shooting and committed just five turnovers. Meanwhile, they held the Hornets to a 40.7 percent field goal percentage in the final 20 minutes.

A major bright spot in the first half was Isaiah Cotton, who scored a team-high 11 points. He joined the trio of Buckner, Buzzell and White in double-figures. Will Harrington dished out a team-high five assists.

Dominic Phillips scored a game-high 25 points for Harris-Stowe, thanks to seven 3-pointers. He was the only Hornet in double-figures.

The Spartans continue their roadtrip Thursday night at Williams Baptist. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m.