BELLEVILLE, Ill. – A slow start and missed second-half opportunities cursed Missouri Baptist on Saturday at Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.). Though the Spartans shot 50 percent from the floor, they were unable to hit the clutch buckets when they needed them in a 94-88 loss in Belleville.
 
Missouri Baptist (13-2, 5-2 AMC) looked sluggish at the outset of Saturday's clash, but rebounded as the first half came to a close.
 
Lindenwood-Belleville jumped out to a 15-point lead midway through the first half and left Missouri Baptist searching for answers. The Spartans began making end roads as Fitzgerald Hopkins led the way to the first half comeback. The senior tallied 17 points in the opening 20 minutes as the visitors battled back.
 
Down by 10 with just over six minutes remaining in the first half, Hopkins posted 13 points in a matter of four minutes and helped his team to take a four-point, 40-36 lead with just over two minutes on the clock.
 
Four clutch points from Hopkins came from the free throw line as Imani Starling was whistled for a technical foul after the Spartan guard was fouled on a shot.
 
Hopkins knocked-down four free throws on the play, which gave Missouri Baptist its first lead since the 17:38 mark of the half.
 
Not to be outdone was the dynamic Lynx guard Martavian Payne. The senior also recorded 17 points in the opening half of play and helped his team to tie the game heading into the break. Payne finished with 33 points on the day.
 
The Lynx, however, put together a big second half.
 
While the first five minutes of the second was mostly even, Lindenwood-Belleville began increasing its advantage consistently after Jesus Castillo's triple with 14:18 to play.
 
It was at this point that the Lynx began an 8-2 run to create a seven-point, 66-59 lead.
 
Though the Spartans created quality shooting opportunities, it was the Lynx that converted on its opportunities when needed.
 
Missouri Baptist trailed by just two with 5:23 remaining, but the home team took the reigns. Lindenwood-Belleville put together an 11-2 run, capped-off with a Payne three-pointer with 2:03 left to take a commanding 84-74 advantage.
 
Missouri Baptist fired back to close the gap to six with a late three by Hopkins and a short-range jumper by Jamouri Robinson in the closing seconds, but that was as close as they could get.
 
Karson King had a solid effort for the Spartans in addition to Hopkins. King finished with 11 points and was 5-7 from the floor. King and Hopkins represented the only Spartans in double-digits.
 
On the whole, Missouri Baptist won the battle of the stat sheet in the game. The team outshot the Lynx from the floor (50% - 48.5%), from three-point range (33% - 31%) and from the charity stripe (83% - 72%). The main discrepancy, however, came in the turnover column. Lindenwood forced 17 Spartan turnovers in the game, which tied for a season high.
 
With the loss, Missouri Baptist will look to pick-up its first win of 2018 at home against Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) on Thursday, January 4. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Carl and Deloris Petty Sports and Recreation Complex.