SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Missouri Baptist University men's basketball defeated Mission University, 86-72, on Thursday evening, led by Thai Elder's 26 points to help the Spartans return to the win column.
With the victory, MBU improved to 3-6 on the season and closed out their three-game road trip while also improving to a 2-0 record in American Midwest Conference (AMC) play.
"This was an ugly game," said Head Coach Taylor Jarvis. "They did a good job disrupting our flow, and we struggled in the first half to hit some shots. The guys continued to stay the course and found a way to win. Conference wins on the road are always tough to get, so I'm proud of the guys' fight today to find a way to win.
"Thai was a big piece for us today," Jarvis added. "He did a better job looking to attack first and get paint touches."
Elder's 26 points paced the Spartans in scoring. He added nine rebounds, three assists, and a steal to his stat line. The senior shot an efficient 7-for-11 from the field and 2-for-5 from beyond the arc.
Austin Lewis contributed 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting, along with six rebounds and two blocks. Both Evan Palmquist and Courtland Soll added 10 points apiece for the Spartans. Palmquist chipped in five rebounds, four assists, and three steals, while Soll tallied two rebounds and three assists.
MBU shot 44.1% from the field and connected on seven 3-pointers at a 26.9% clip. The Spartans recorded 21 second-chance points and received significant contributions from their bench, which accounted for 38 points.
The Patriots shot 37.7% from the field and managed just four 3-pointers, shooting 17.4% from beyond the arc.
Mission led 30-27 at halftime, but a second-half surge from MBU turned the tide. The Spartans outscored the Patriots by 19 points in the second half, with Elder contributing 17 points and Lewis adding 13 after the break. At one point, MBU extended its lead to as much as 16 points.
The Spartans return to action on Saturday, hosting No. 10-ranked Central Baptist College. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m.
