MBU Athletics

HANNIBAL, MO. – (3) MBU Men's Basketball made a season-low 18 field goals (29.5%) in a 65-59 defeat to Hannibal-LaGrange (17-10, 15-7 AMC) on Saturday afternoon. The Spartans finished the regular season with an overall record of 27-3 and an AMC record of 19-3.
 
Missouri Baptist jumped out to an early 9-3 lead before entering a rare extended cold spell. After a three-pointer from Kai Woodfall at 15:37, it would be more than eight minutes before the Spartans' next field goal.
 
The Trojans led by as many as 10 in the opening half but MBU battled back and trailed by just four (30-26) at the break.
 
Sensing the opportunity for the upset, Hannibal kept its foot on the gas in the second half. Each time the Spartans threatened the lead, the Trojans came up with a timely bucket to maintain the advantage. Sophomore guard Brady Smith, the leading scorer in the AMC, was especially tough to stop for the Spartans. Smith finished with a team-high 26 points for the home side.
 
Kai Woodfall finished the day with 17 points to lead MBU. Pablo Hernandez battled foul trouble but ultimately joined Woodfall, Jahmouri Robinson (12), and Jesus Castillo (10) in double figures.
 
The Spartans will now return home to host the first round of the AMC Postseason Tournament next Thursday, February 28. The opponent will be a familiar one as Columbia College (15-15, 10-12 AMC) finished the regular season as the No. 8 seed. Tipoff at the Carl and Deloris Petty SRC is scheduled for 7 pm.