LAKE WALES, Fla.- The Spartans spent their New Year's in the Sunshine State, where they took on Warner University and Webber International University.
 
Warner University
On Saturday (Dec 30) the Spartans faced off against Warner's on their home turf. MBU had a bit of a rocky start, turning the ball over almost immediately, but fortunately, they were able to shut down the Royals' scoring opportunity off the play. Defense was tight for both teams, the first points coming from the Royals two minutes into the game. The Spartans didn't stay scoreless long, with Sterling Benjamin driving into the paint where he was fouled and sent to the free throw line. Benjamin stepped up and sank both free throws to put the Spartans on the board.
 
The Spartans had a brief stint with the lead, ahead by as much as six points five minutes into the game. Keyyaun Batchman kicked off the Spartans run with a drive to the basket to score the jump shot. Evan Palmquist put the Spartans ahead with a three pointer at the top of the key. Despite the Spartans efforts, Warner began to take control of the ball game, taking the lead seven minutes in. MBU ended the half down by 9.
 
The second half was a slow start for the Spartans. Warner continued to widen the gap while MBU was trying to get back into the swing of things. The Spartans started to claw their way back from a 20-point deficit four minutes into the half. Batchman kicked things off again for the Spartans sinking a jump shot right over top of his defender. The rest of the game the Spartans were able to outscore the Royals 28-20. Despite outshooting their opponent, MBU was unable to make up the difference and fell to Warner, 76-65. Batchman led the Spartans with 20 points, followed by Palmquist with 13.
 
Webber International University
The next day (December 31) the Spartans were seeking redemption from their previous loss. At the start of the game, the Warriors drained a couple of threes right of the back. Nico Hill was there to answer with one of his own after receiving a pass from under the basket by Batchman. The first ten minutes it was a close ball game with the lead just out of reach of the Spartans. At 13:40 the Spartans gained a one point lead off of a three pointer from Benjamin but it lasted less than 30 seconds.
 
Webber started to pull away with five minutes left in the half, securing a double-digit lead. MBU continued to fight back, chipping away at the 14-point difference. The last four minutes the Spartans were able to outscore the Warriors by a couple of baskets, bringing it to a ten-point ball game.
 
The second half was a fight, with the Spartans determined to make a comeback. The first ten minutes of the half, it was a lot of back and forth with MBU able to put up a few extra points to shrink the gap. Right at the start, MBU was able to go on a seven-point run. After Webber opened up the half with a jump shot, D'Mari Wiltz hurried the ball up the court, passing it to Batchman who drove in from half court to sink a layup. Not long after, Batchman was able to swat the ball out of an opponent's hands and make the layup off of the steal. A Warrior, trying to stop the seniors drive to the basket, fouled Batchman, sending him to the line for the and one. Sinking the free throw, Batchman was able to earn three points off the play. Soon after Wiltz was able to capitalize on a Warrior turnover. After receiving the inbound, Wiltz passed it to Connor Redrow and cut into the front of the basket. Redrow proceeded to dump the ball Wiltz who then made the wide-open layup.
 
Despite the early scoring run from the Spartans, the Warriors started to widen the gap with eight minutes left in the game. Webber was up by as much as 15 points at one time. But MBU wasn't going to sit back and take it. With a three-pointer from Breven McMullen, the Spartans once again took control of the game and scored eight straight points. Though MBU was able to bring it to a five-point ball game, they were unable to hold off the Warriors long enough to secure the lead.
 
MBU ultimately lost their second game of the weekend to Webber, 92-88. McMullen really stepped up against the Warriors, leading the Spartans with 27 points. Nico Hill followed that up with 14 points while Batchman was not far behind with 11.
 
Overall, the Spartans were 0-2 on the weekend. They will now be heading into conference play, kicking things off at home against William Woods on January 6.