Box Score ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] Missouri Baptist started a string of four straight road games to end the regular season Tuesday night. The journey got off to a strong start after the Spartans defeated Hannibal-LaGrange 78-54.
A hot-shooting first half helped the cause. MBU (15-12, 9-10 AMC) shot 61.3 percent (19-for-31) in the half to jump out in front early. Five different Spartans ended the night in double-figures. Jahmouri Robinson led the balanced-attack with 12 points and five assists.
The road team sprinted ahead 19-9 early and HLG had no response. The Trojans got within four points with 11:59 to go in the half, but a Robinson bucket prevented any further damage.
Robinson scored eight of his team-high 12 points in the first half. The redshirt-freshman also dished out a team-high five assists and helped get the offense moving. The Spartans led by as many as 17 in the half and 45-31 at the break thanks to a late 3-pointer from Luke Call.
The navy and white didn't let off the gas pedal after halftime. The shooting percentage dipped, but just to a very respectable 48 percent. Defensively, MBU limited the Trojans to 40 percent shooting for the night and a 5-for-17 clip from beyond the arc.
Another bucket from Call pushed the MBU lead to 20, 55-35, for the first time with 14:10 remaining. The Spartans reached their largest lead of 27 after a free throw from Robbie Bone and kept the lead over 20 throughout the final 10 minutes.
Pablo Hernandez and Johnny Benson each finished with 11 points and combined for nine rebounds. David Gabrovsek and Jared White added 10 points each. White also grabbed a team-leading seven rebounds. Will Harrington had five assists to reach 341 for his career, tying the All-Time school record. His next assist will break the mark held by Antonio Mason.
The Spartans next game is Saturday against a hot Harris-Stowe team. The Hornets have won eight straight games and nine of their last 10 since MBU defeated them 82-61 on January 7th. Tip on Saturday is set for 3:00 pm.
