ST. LOUIS – For the second time in four seasons, Missouri Baptist Men's Basketball has earned the AMC's Regular Season Title. The Spartans lapped the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (UHSP) 94-61 on Thursday night to run their conference record to 14-0.
After a pregame ceremony honoring this year's nine seniors, the Spartans stormed out the gates and never gave the visiting Eutectics a chance to breathe. MBU was without starting point guard
Jadis White so fellow upperclassman
RJ Pair and
Tyrell Andrews rose to the occasion. The duo combined for 21 points in the first half as the Spartans took a 39-27 edge into intermission.
A first half where MBU shot 55.2% from the field was impressive but it was only the appetizer. The Spartans erupted for 55 more points in the final 20 minutes, firing at a 63% clip (23-36). UHSP could not keep up as the lead grew from 20 to 25 and then up over 30 in the final minutes.
Andrews added 14 more points in the second half on 5-6 FG. He finished the night 9-13 for a new career-high 24 points, including a perfect 3-3 from 3PT. The Wichita native also added three steals, four rebounds, three assists, and two blocks for one of the most complete stat lines of the season.
Four other Spartans joined Andrews in double figures.
RJ Pair had 16,
Brendon Hardy had 15, and
Ryan Pollard had 12.
John Yaeger logged yet another double-double – his team-leading fifth of the year – with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
MBU finished the night 39-65 from the field for a 60% team FG percentage – their second highest of the season. The Spartans followed up Tuesday's hot 3PT performance with another big night from beyond the arc. They went 9-16 from deep after finishing 10-17 in the win over Williams Baptist.
Missouri Baptist now has two games left in the regular season to accomplish something only one other team has previously done in the AMC. The 2012-13 Columbia Cougars are the only team to finish the conference schedule undefeated.
The Spartans can move one step closer to that mark when they travel to Conway, Ark. to face CBC on Saturday. Tip time is scheduled for 3 pm. After concluding the regular season next Thursday at William Woods, MBU will host the AMC Quarterfinals at the Petty SRC on February 24.
