Box Score ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] Missouri Baptist fell in a seesaw battle against Central Baptist 82-78 Saturday afternoon in AMC action. The game featured 15 lead changes and was close until the final horn.
Neither team led by more than eight points, a total CBC (6-3, 3-2) reached with 2:00 minutes left as they began to pull away. Back-to-back buckets from Mike Evans and Andy Ettiene doubled the Mustang lead from four to eight in a 40 second span.
Thanks to the sharpshooting of Luke Call, MBU (7-5, 1-3) wasn't done just yet. Call hit a huge three on the ensuing possession to cut the deficit to five and another with 57 seconds left to make it 80-78 Mustangs.
After CBC went 1-of-2 from the line, Call's opportunity to tie with 10 seconds left just missed. Jayln McBride's free throw with eight seconds left sealed the 82-78 Mustang win. McBride had a game-high 20 points, including five 3-pointers. CBC made nine 3-pointers and finished the game shooting 50.7 percent.
The road team helped keep MBU in the game with a 5-for-18 mark (27.8 percent) from the free-throw line, but managed to escape. The Spartans led by as many as six in the first half, a half filled with hot-shooting and 12 lead changes. Both team shots above 52 percent and relied heavy on the 3-point shot, with CBC connecting on 7-of-13 from distance and MBU hitting 5-of-10.
Five Spartans finished in double figures with Call leading the way with 19 points (5-for-10 3pt). Johnny Benson had 15 points and 11 rebounds to secure a double-double. Jared White (13 points), David Gabrovsek (12 points) and James McKelvin (12 points) also finished in double-figures.
Will Harrington added 11 rebounds and eight assists, eclipsing the 250 mark for his career. Ettiene had 14 for the Mustangs and Fred Albright added 12. A big stat line in this one was turnovers, as MBU committed 19 and CBC just six. The Spartans also played this game without starting guard Chris Buzzell due to injury.
They'll look to get back on track in 12 days at No. 12 Park. Tip on Dec. 29th is set for 7:30 pm.
