WALNUT RIDGE, Ark.- The Spartans traveled to Arkansas yesterday (Jan 24) to take on the Williams Baptist University Eagles. It was a hard-fought win for Missouri Baptist, with the lead changing hands five times. The Spartans showed their tenacity, making a comeback from behind with only a few minutes left in the game to secure the win, 74-65.
 
The first half of the game was largely dominated by the Spartans. MBU got off to a quick start with a three-pointer from Nico Hill. The Spartans continued to put up points while applying pressure on defense. Down on the Eagles' end, D'Mari Wiltz was staying tight to his man, allowing Keyyaun Batchman to catch him off guard and poke the ball away. Wiltz collected the ball and sent it up the court to Hill, who slammed down a dunk, completely unobstructed.
 
With 9:31 left in the half, MBU found themselves in a bit of a tight spot with WBU taking the lead. A nine-point run for the Spartans would see the end of that, putting them back on top 25-18. Batchman kicked off their run by pulling a shot fake to make his way around his man and into the paint to sink a layup. Nico Hill would follow that up with his second dunk of the game after sprinting up the court to receive a long pass from Wiltz. The senior was able to get a good run up to launch himself into the air, bringing down a one-handed dunk. Batchman was back at it not much later. After receiving the ball up the court from Preston Fortner, the senior went one-on-one with an Eagle defender. Pulling a spin move to open up space, Batchman was able to sink the layup. Batchman and Hill were going back and forth on offense, with Hill back on the attack, scoring a three-pointer.
 
Williams Baptist finally found themselves back on the scoreboard with a layup, but MBU would maintain their lead for the rest of the half. The second half would be more of a battle, with both teams fighting for the win. Four minutes in, WBU would tie it up, but MBU fought them off to maintain their lead. Layups coming from Keyyaun Batchman and Evan Palmquist would keep them on top. The Spartans would then go back and forth with the Eagles until WBU would get a couple of extra baskets on MBU to take the lead.
 
The Eagles' lead would last for long as a layup from Connor Redrow would shrink the gap, and a follow-up layup from Hill would put the Spartans back on top. The lead would change hands a number of times over the course of the next six minutes. With three minutes left in the game, Hill would secure the lead for MBU once again. Wiltz would open up space by driving into the paint, kicking the ball out to Hill waiting in the corner to sink the three. Fortner would solidify the Spartans' momentum for the last few minutes of the game by picking off a pass as WBU brought the ball up the court. Fortner would then take the ball into the basket, going up and around an Eagle defender to sink the layup. The senior would continue to build off that by receiving the ball at the top of the key and making a three. Batchman would wrap things up nicely for MBU, going on a fast break to make the layup.
 
The last minute and a half of the game would go by with neither team putting up a point. MBU would close out the game on top, 74-65. Hill was the leading scorer for the Spartans once again, knocking down 19 points. Batchman was a couple of baskets behind with 15 points in the game, while Fortner was just shy of the double-digit range with nine points. Wiltz was able to accumulate an impressive 11 assists in the game while scoring six points.
 
The Spartans will extend their time in Arkansas by traveling up to Conway to take on conference leaders, Central Baptist College, tomorrow (Jan 27) at 3 PM.