POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – Coming into the 2022-23 season, Missouri Baptist University Men's Basketball Coach Preston Ingram knew he would need contributions from some new faces to reach the heights he thought his team was capable of. For the second straight game, he got a solid contribution from a familiar face and a double-double from a newcomer, this time downing the College of the Ozarks Bobcats 78-64 on the road on Tuesday night.
 
Much like he did on Saturday against St Ambrose, top returning scorer Brendon Hardy poured in 25 points to lead the Spartans. But unlike Saturday, it was forward Nico Hill who scored 14 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to help secure the victory. Last time out, it was Bryce Johnson playing the role with Hardy as the dynamic duo.
 
There was another similarity to Saturday in this game too, and it is definitely a positive revelation. MBU got off to a hot start on Tuesday, scoring 17 points in the first five minutes as they built a 17-5 lead. The lead would grow to as many as 15 in the first half as MBU shot the ball at 56% from the field. However, the Bobcats used a 12-0 run over the span of three minutes and 21 seconds mid-way through the half to pull even at 26. From there the lead see-sawed back and forth before the Spartans took the lead for good with 2:24 left in the half on a Hill three-pointer. MBU used a 10-2 run to close the first half and led 45-38 at the break. Hardy had 21 in the first half on eight of 11 shooting including five of seven from three-point distance.
 
In the second half the Spartan defense began to clamp down a little more, holding the College of the Ozarks to just 28% shooting after the break.  During a seven-minute stretch ending with 10:15 left, the Spartans outscored the Bobcats 19-3 to open up 23-point lead, their largest of the game.  The College of the Ozarks wasn't going away though as back-to-back threes by Seth Soden on consecutive possessions enabled the Bobcats to claw back within 11 with 3:23 left. The Spartans steadied themselves and secured the 14-point victory.

Johnson joined Hardy and Hill in double-figures with 10 points. Guard Jadis White recorded three steals in the game. The College of the Ozarks were led in scoring and rebounding by Terry Gupton who had 13 points and eight rebounds.
 
The Spartans shot 51% overall for the game, while holding the College of the Ozarks to 37%. They also outrebounded the Bobcats 46-31, including 27-13 in the second half. This is the second consecutive game the Spartans have both outshot and outrebounded their opponent, and they have won both.
 
MBU moves to 2-2 on the season as the College of the Ozarks drops to 1-4.
 
The Spartans will hope to maintain their momentum when they travel to Peru, Neb. this weekend to take part in the Heart of America/AMC Classic. Friday at 5:00 p.m. they will take on Grand View University, then turn around and face Peru State College at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday.