ST. LOUIS—Missouri Baptist Men's Basketball (12-6, 8-4 AMC) defeated No. 21 Central Baptist College 72-61 on Thursday night at the Petty SRC. The Mustangs came into the night leading the AMC with nine wins (12-6, 9-3 AMC). It was also the Spartans' third win of the season over a team ranked or receiving votes in the Top 25 Coaches' Poll.
 
Two of the AMC's heavyweights traded blows throughout a first half that featured seven lead changes. MBU briefly had a 21-16 advantage before CBC rattled off eight in a row to take a three-point lead. The Spartans shot 61% from the field though in the opening 20 minutes and went into halftime ahead 33-28.
 
The Spartans' zone defense gave an athletic Mustangs' squad fits at times in the first half. Central Baptist attempted a whopping 17 threes in the opening period but converted just four.
 
Out of the break, Missouri Baptist pushed the lead up to 13 thanks in large part to a breakout performance from redshirt freshman Christian Backa. The Finnish-born center scored eight of MBU's first 12 points in the second half. He finished the night with a career-high 11 to go along with three blocks and four rebounds.
 
CBC was able to make a run to cut the deficit to four with four minutes left (59-55) but a technical foul on the Mustangs' Tyrone Alston gave the Spartans just enough momentum to pull away. Brendon Hardy converted the resulting free throws and Morenke Bettis contributed a clutch basket on the ensuing possession. The Spartans remained in control from there to earn an 11-point win.
 
MBU finished the night shooting 51.8% as a team. Junior John Yaeger continued to play a huge role at the four position. Yaeger notched his second double-double of the season with a team-high 18 points (8-14 FG) and 10 rebounds.
 
Yaeger was matched in the rebound category by James McKelvin who finished off his own double-double with 10 points. Jahmouri Robinson battled through an injury to post 13 points (5-10 FG). The senior came through when it mattered most, knocking down 3-4 from behind the 3PT line, including two late in the second half.
 
"I'm so proud of these guys," noted Head Coach Preston Ingram. "That was a complete team effort. John Yaeger is playing out of his mind. James McKelvin gave us a double-double. Christian [Backa] gets bigger and bigger every night. We have the pieces and capability to do something good here and it's starting to show."
 
The Spartans are now just a game out of first place in the log-jammed AMC top five. One of the teams they are currently tied with will visit the SRC on Saturday. The Lyon College Scots (12-7, 8-4 AMC) handed the Spartans their worst defeat of the season back on November 23 in Batesville.
 
Tip time on Saturday is scheduled for 3 pm at the Carl and Deloris Petty SRC.
 
*Note: both MBU Men's and Women's Basketball scored 70 points on Thursday night so box combos are buy one, get one at the Raising Cane's on Manchester Rd. in Des Peres all day Friday.*