PANAMA CITY, Fla. – For 15 minutes in the second half it looked like the Missouri Baptist Spartans were going the get the season's first signature win they so desperately have been looking for, this one over the defending national champion Loyola University (La.) Wolfpack. It was not to be though as MBU was outscored 15-3 over the final five minutes and three seconds and lost 69-64 in the second of three games they will play in the Battle at the Beach in Panama City, Fla.
The officiating of this game made it difficult for both teams to find much of an offensive flow, and may have helped determine the outcome of the game at the end. The two teams combined for 45 fouls, including 25 against MBU. There were 49 free throws attempted. In fact, MBU had more fouls than successful field goals, 25 to 20.
Even in the midst of the late scoring drought the Spartans had the ball down by a single point with under 30 seconds left. Senior
Tyrell Andrews took a strong drive into the paint, drew contact, but missed the shot. Even though 43 fouls had been called up to that point, the officiating crew saw no infraction on the sequence and Loyola's Leonard Jackson pulled the defensive rebound. The Spartans bench was understandably upset about the no-call and was immediately whistled for a technical foul with 22 seconds remaining. Loyola would make one of two free throws as a result of the foul and was awarded the ball as well. The Spartans had no choice but to foul and the Wolfpack hit their free throws to claim the five-point win. It is entirely possible the Spartans may not have been able to score to get back to even, but there is no arguing that the pivotal call changed the trajectory of the closing moments, helping the defending national champions to stay perfect at 6-0 on the season.
This was a game that MBU seemingly had in their grasp from late in the first half. Loyola led 23-15 with 7:28 left in the half but they experienced a scoring drought of their own which allowed the Spartans to close the half on a 17-5 run and claim a 32-28 lead at the break. Both teams had more fouls than field goals in the first half, as they combined for 24 fouls and 19 successful baskets.
The second half was much of the same. Except for a 19 second stretch with 14:43 left, the Spartans led the entire second half until there was 1:29 on the clock. MBU would build a lead as large as seven with 5:03 remaining. However, between that point and that 1:29 mark, the Spartans committed a turnover on six consecutive possessions. Even then the Spartans briefly regained the lead on a successful three-point shot by Andrews. The Wolfpack didn't take the lead for good until there were 44 seconds remaining, setting up the sequence that ended in the technical foul call.
MoBap got 22 points and five rebounds from senior
Brendon Hardy. Andrews had 20 points and five rebounds as well.
Bryce Johnson had 11 points and seven rebounds.
Daishaun Woods started but foul trouble limited him to 14 minutes.
The Wolfpack were led by Matthew Mondesir with 22 points. Loyola's leading scorer on the season, Jalen Galloway, was held to 14 points and five rebounds. Galloway came in averaging 24 points and nine boards. For a Wolfpack offense that was avergaing almost 88 points per game but the Spartans held them in check throughout the evening. The number of whistles surely contributed to that differential.
MBU is now 5-5 on the season. The Spartans have one more chance to make a statement in this three-game excursion to Florida. They will take on No. 9-ranked Faulkner University tomorrow at 4 p.m. in their final game in the Battle at the Beach.
