ST. LOUIS—Missouri Baptist Men's Basketball started off the final week of the regular season with a 79-70 win over Williams Baptist (7-10, 5-6 AMC) on Tuesday night at the Petty SRC. The Spartans ran their record to 12-8 overall and 8-4 in the AMC.
 
The Spartans, back to full health for the first time in two weeks, led from the outset. It was a dominant defensive performance in the first half to hold WBU to just 24.1% from the field. MBU went into the halftime break ahead 30-22.
 
The Spartans were unbeaten this season when leading at halftime and that trend was not about to change on this night. Juniors Jadis White, who dealt with foul trouble in the first half, and Brendon Hardy, who returned to the lineup after a three-game absence, each hit a three out of the gate to start the second period. The lead was quickly up to double digits at 38-27.
 
An offensive rebound and putback by John Yaeger gave MBU its largest advantage at 17 (62-45) with 6:42 left. A brief run by Williams Baptist followed to pull it back to single digits. The Spartans would then squash any hopes of a miraculous comeback when freshman Billy Francis Jr. hit a three to push the lead back up to 13 (67-54) with 3:23 to play. 
 
Despite only playing a little over four minutes of the first half, Jadis White finished the night leading the Spartans with 18 points (a new career-high). White was 5-6 from the field and also added three steals.
 
Another key contributor making his return to the lineup, John Yaeger posted 14 points and five rebounds. The Lutheran South product set a new career-high with five steals. Billy Francis Jr. (13) and Tyrell Andrews (12) made it a quartet in double figures for MBU.
 
The Spartans now have just two regular season games remaining. They'll head down 64 East to UHSP (1-14, 0-7 AMC) on Thursday before wrapping up with first-place Central Baptist (13-4, 8-1 AMC) on Saturday. A win in either of those games would secure home court in the AMC Quarterfinals.