ST. CHARLES, Mo. – The Missouri Baptist University men's bowling team returned to action and did so close to home at the Lions Match Play Classic hosted by Lindenwood University at St. Charles Lanes.
 
Freshman Bryson Hicks turned in a top-five finish among the JV ranks highlighted by a 278 in Game 2. The 278 ranked as the second-highest game across the individual combined rankings (varsity & JV). The Arnold, Mo. freshman averaged 225 in Saturday's three traditional games and finished higher than any other Spartan.
 
Veteran Hunter Jones and freshman Jack Hoffbuhr also averaged well above 200 like Hicks. Jones represented MBU's highest varsity finish (12^th) with 661 total pins and games of 210, 224, and 227. Hoffbuhr rolled three straight games of 200+ going for 202, 233, and 214.
 
Others finishing in the top-half of the combined field included senior Seth Harris (21^st) with a 197.70 average, freshmen Cole Buckman (31^st) and Jaden Jackson (33^rd) with 184.00 and 179.70 averages, and senior Noah Middendorf (34^th) with a 179.30 average.
 
In the varsity qualifying team standings, MBU finished right in the middle of the pack to earn the No. 3 see for bracket play. The Spartans totaled 2,955 in three team games and 3,724 in 20 Baker games to finish ahead of Drury, Central Methodist and UHSP. In bracket play, MoBap got the win in its first draw against No. 6 seed Central Methodist, defeating the Eagles 232-145, 206-245, 204-143. The eventual Lions Classic champs – Lindenwood – took down the Spartans in their next match 226-194, 222-170. MBU was once again pitted against CMU ad took care of business 254-168, 158-164, 255-224. Despite taking Game 1 from the Lions in a rematch, 257-213, LU edged out MBU with wins of 205-195 and 212-186.
 
In the JV bracket, MBU's JV2 squad consisting of Aiden Page, Ayden Kientzy, Bryson Hicks, Cole Buckman, Jaden Jackson, and Jordan Teams, dropped their first match to McKendree JV2, but answered with a 207-160 win in Game 1 against Lindenwood JV1. Unfortunately, that was the end of the road for the Spartans.
 
Up next will be the 23^rd Annual Leatherneck Classic in Davenport, Iowa on Saturday, Nov. 11. Another date on the radar of the men's team is the NAIA Men's Bowling RPI, which will be released the day before on Friday, Nov. 10. After the opening tournament in Wisconsin, the MBU men debuted in the NAIA Team Composite Performance Index (TCPI) in fourth place and currently rank eighth: https://www.naia.org/coaches-corner/pdf/Bowling/Men-s_Leaders_-_10-29.pdf.