ST. LOUIS – In an all-time classic on Tuesday night at the Carl & Deloris Petty SRC, (RV) Missouri Baptist Men's Basketball edged out rival Columbia College 66-65 to win its first AMC Postseason Championship since 2005. In his final home game, graduate senior John Yaeger hit the game-winning floater with .5 seconds left on the clock.
 
About two hours before hitting the game-winner, it was also Yaeger who started the night with a thunderous two-hand slam off a steal in the opening minute. With over 1200 fans from both teams packed into the SRC, the stage was set for a thrilling night of basketball.
 
The Spartans had control for much of the first half. The AMC's best defensive team showed out, holding Columbia to just 10 points in the first 13 minutes. The Cougars chipped away, however, trimming a 12-point deficit all the way down to six at the intermission.
 
The visitors had the momentum going into the locker room and they picked up where they left off when the second half began. A 13-2 run gave CC its first lead of the game at 40-39 with 11:38 to go.
 
The final 10 minutes were a knockdown, drag 'em out battle between the conference's top two teams. The lead changed hands seven times in the final five minutes alone.
 
The Spartans had a 64-63 edge with less than 20 seconds to go. Columbia leading scorer Tony Burks was fouled driving to the basket and the junior hit both free throws to regain the lead.
 
With 13 seconds left, Missouri Baptist did not have a timeout. Tyrell Andrews muscled his way into the paint, but his shot caromed off the back iron. John Yaeger tracked down the offensive rebound and, with less than a second on the clock, converted the put-back to give the Spartans a 66-65 lead.
 
After discussion, the officials agreed to put .5 seconds back on the clock. Columbia had one last chance, but Burks couldn't get the shot off in time. The game was over, and Missouri Baptist Men's Basketball earned its first postseason tournament title in 17 years.
 
"One of the goals when we put this team together two years ago was to come in and do something that hasn't been done in a long time – to win the conference tournament and represent MBU in the National Tournament," commented Head Coach Preston Ingram afterwards.
 
"When I go over to Muncy [Gymnasium, MBU's former home in the early 2000s], I see the banners from 2005 – the last time this program won the regular season and conference tournament. I noticed that right away. That's something that hasn't been done in a long time. We did it, and now the next goal for us is to win a National Tournament game."
 
Indeed, there will be more basketball to be played in just a few weeks. The Opening Round of the NAIA National Tournament tips off on March 11 at 16 campus sites across the country. The Spartans will learn their next destination on Thursday, March 3, at 7 pm on the NAIA Men's Basketball selection show.
 
The selection show will be streamed on the Play NAIA Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/PlayNAIA). Follow MBUAthletics and MBUBasketball on twitter to stay up to date on things National Tournament.