By: Brady Gregor, Athletic Media Relations Intern
Box Score
Bolivar, Mo. - The Southwest Baptist men's basketball team hosted #22 ranked Washburn University to start off conference play Thursday night at the Meyer Sports Center. The Bearcats began by running the fast paced game and jumped out to a quick lead (16-9) going into the first media timeout. After a blistering paced half the Bearcats were down five (44-49) at the half to the undefeated Ichabods. The game came down to a second half showdown that was decided in the final seconds of a game that ended with SBU falling just short to Washburn 89-87.
The SBU men heated up early on despite frigid temperatures outside. The Bearcats fast break offense helped them take an early lead 16-9 in the first five minutes of the game. Senior Rashad Brown-Peterson continued his solid play this season leading the Bearcats with 10 points with 9:10 remaining in the first half with the Bearcats up 26-21. The Bearcats had a maintained a marginal lead 35-32 4:26 left to play in the first half. SBU finished the first half down 49-44 due to a 17-9 run by Washburn.
The second half kept the same swift pace as the first. The Bearcats managed to decrease the halftime lead to six staying with the Ichabods step for step. The Bearcats slowly scratched away at the Ichabod's lead cutting it to 3 (67-64) with 9:48 reaming in the game. At this point SBU were controlling the battle in the paint 30-24 to keep the game close. SBU fought to the very end, as the winning three point shot missed that would have won in the final seconds of the game.
Senior Rashad Brown-Peterson had a great start to his last MIAA season as he led the Bearcats with a team high 23 points shooting 8-11 from the field and 5-6 from the free throw line. Menas Stevens had a team high 7 rebounds on the night. The Bearcats shot 52.5% from the field, 40.9% from beyond the arc, and 63.7% from the free throw line.
The Bearcats are back in action on Saturday December 7, against Nebraska-Kearney in Bolivar, Missouri. The SBU Men are set to tip off at 3:30 p.m. central standard time.
