ST. LOUIS – The 2016-17 American Midwest Conference (AMC) season is underway, and as the calendar turns to December, the AMC Game of the Week for men's basketball gets off the ground on Saturday afternoon. The first installment of the AMC Game of the Week will feature a key battle of AMC schools from the St. Louis area, as the Missouri Baptist University Spartans (4-3, 0-1 AMC) play host to the Lindenwood University-Belleville Lynx (6-2, 2-1 AMC). The game will tip-off at 3 p.m. at the Carl & Deloris Petty Sports and Recreation Complex. The game will be broadcast live on the Spartan Digital Network.
WHO
Lindenwood-Belleville Lynx: The Lynx have been a high-powered offense so far this season. Only once so far this year have the Lynx scored less than 87 points, and four times they have eclipsed the 100-point threshold. They rank fourth in NAIA Disivion I in scoring average (99.8 ppg), and they have been led by MarTavian Payne, who is averaging 23.5 points per contest.
Missouri Baptist Spartans: Missouri Baptist is coming off one of their best seasons in recent memory, and they got off to a good start again this fall. After starting 3-1, however, the Spartans have his a rough patch, falling in three of their last four games, including an AMC loss to William Woods University on Thursday night. Jahmouri Robinson leads the AMC with an average of 5.57 per contest, and MBU features a balanced attack with four players averaging between 12 and 17 points per game.
WHAT
This will be the eighth meeting all-time between the two schools, with Lindenwood-Belleville holding a slim 4-3 edge in the series. The teams have split their four game in AMC play, with Lindenwood-Belleville winning the first two in the 2014-15 season, and Missouri Baptist rebounding to take two victories in 2015-16.
WHEN
Saturday, December 3, 2016; 3 p.m.
Live Video – www.spartandigitalnetwork.com
Live Stats – DakStats (http://www.dakstats.com/websync/Pages/Webcasts.aspx?association=10)
WHERE
St. Louis, Mo. (Carl & Deloris Petty Sports and Recreation Complex)
Ticket Information: http://www.mbuspartans.com/f/Admission_to_Events.php
WHY
The Spartans and Lynx both figured to be in the thick of the AMC race this season, and as early season games go, this one is important for both teams. The game opens a stretch of game for Missouri Baptist where the Spartans will play nine of their next 12 games at home. Lindenwood-Belleville also will play close to home for their next several games, as their next five contests will either be at home or in St. Louis.
Story provided by AMC SID Tim Shay
