PERU, Neb. – In his distinguished and decorated college career,
Brendon Hardy has never had a night like this. He likely wishes it came under better circumstances. Despite Hardy pouring in 35 points, the Missouri Baptist Spartans fell 85-80 to the Peru State College Bobcats Saturday night.
The senior set a new career high by shooting 15 of 23 from the field, including 5 of 12 from behind the arc. He scored from every area of the court and he was by far the leading contributor for MBU. Joining him in double-figures was
Tyrell Andrews with 17 points and
Jadis White with 10. Peru State's Jibril Harris had 19 points and 11 boards.
Both teams had a hard time getting into the flow of their offense on this second night of back-to-back games for each. Five minutes into the game Peru State led the Spartans just 6-2. The Spartans managed to shoot only 42% in the first half, to 37% for Peru State. Contributing to the tightness of the score throughout was a woeful one for 13 effort from three point distance for the Bobcats in the first half.
The Spartans stayed within striking distance the entire game but were never able to get a lead and take control. In fact, the Spartans had the lead on three occasions in the contest but only for a combined 57 seconds. MBU's largest lead was a single point.
The Spartans in general, and Hardy in particular, caught fire in the second half, but it wasn't enough. Hardy scored 25 of his 35 points after the break as the Spartans shot a blistering 67% from the field in the final 20 minutes. Peru State nearly matched them at 59% and held a five-rebound advantage on the boards. MBU made one more field goal in the game, but Peru had eight more chances. One big advantage the Bobcats enjoyed was free throw shooting. The Spartans were just two of three from the stripe while Peru State made 13 trips and connected on nine of them.
MBU had the ball and a chance to tie the game with 20 seconds left. Down 83-80 with 29 seconds left,
Jadis White blocked a three-point shot from Peru State's Ajante Hogan, brought the ball into the front court and MBU called time out. Coach
Preston Ingram drew up a play to get the ball in the hands of Hardy in hopes he could sink a game-tying three. The look he got was decent but defended well and it wouldn't fall. The Spartans were forced to foul, and the final horn sounded with the Bobcats prevailing 85-80.
The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for the Spartans. They will take the court at the Petty SRC this Thursday to open American Midwest Conference play against a much-improved William Woods University team. Tip-off for the men's game is 7:30 p.m.
