WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. – The race toward the AMC Postseason Tournament took another turn on Thursday night when MBU Men's Basketball fell 98-90 at Williams Baptist. The Eagles (11-12, 10-9 AMC) leapfrogged the Spartans into seventh place in the conference standings. Missouri Baptist (14-12, 10-10 AMC) is now a half-game ahead of William Woods for the eighth and final spot.
 
The Spartans weathered the hostile Walnut Ridge crowd early in Thursday's first half. Late in opening period, a steal and score by Gerald Moore gave the visitors a commanding 13-point lead. But WBU ended the half on a 9-2 run and halted some of the Spartans' momentum. It was 48-42 at the break.
 
The tide continued to turn after the intermission. The Eagles tied the game and then took the lead back after scoring the first seven points of the period. When they eventually took a 59-57 advantage, they had a lead that wouldn't be surrendered.
 
The Spartans didn't go quietly. Down 78-67 with seven minutes left, Mo. Bap reeled off a 7-0 run of its own and cut the deficit to four. With 1:57 left, a three from Jahmouri Robinson made it a one-point game. They couldn't come any closer though. WBU scored the next six points and salted the game away at the free-throw line.
 
Robinson finished the night with a career-high 37 points. The senior put the Spartans on his back, almost single-handedly keeping his team in the game with 18 second half points. He played all 40 minutes, making 14-22 from the field and 9-15 from behind the 3PT line.
 
James McKelvin (12 points) and Naod Rezene (11) were the other MBU players in double figures. McKelvin narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds.
 
The Spartans shot 47.3% from the field—well above their season average. Unfortunately, the 98 points they allowed to WBU was a new season-high. The Eagles fired at a 53.1% FG clip.
 
Two games remain now in the regular season for Missouri Baptist. They'll travel to Henderson, Tenn. on Saturday to meet Freed-Hardeman (18-8, 13-6 AMC). Tip time is scheduled for 3 pm.