Box Score Bolivar, Mo. – The Southwest Baptist University Bearcats Men's Basketball team fell in close match-up against Missouri Southern, 96-94.

The Bearcats spread the scoring around early in the first half against the Lions of Missouri Southern. SBU  and MSSU would be tied 20-20 at the 9:48 mark in the first half before the Lions opened up the scoring by going on a 7-3 run after a pair of dunks swung momentum in their favor. However, Jaywuan Hill would provide the Bearcats with a spark late in the first half with a free throw and a crowd pleasing dunk, but each time Missouri Southern answered and spread the score out further. The Lions stretched the gap to seven points by going up 35-28 at the 4:00 minute mark of the first half. SBU would rally late in the first half after three pointers from Menas Stephens, Preston Guiot and Afam Obukwelu that would close the lead to five at 42-37 with 1:35 remaining in the half. The half would close out with SBU down four after a David Gabrovsek three, going into the half down 40-44.

The second half opened up with both teams going on small runs and each team answering with runs of their own. Missouri Southern led the way by four at 56-52 at the 16:00 minute mark. The Bearcats would force the Lions to call a timeout shortly after by getting two quick buckets, one a jumper from Jaywuan Hill and another jumper from Guiot. This would tie the game up at 56 all with 15:15 left in the second half. 

The Lions would go on a 9-3 run in the next minutes to open up the score to bring the contest to 65-59 at the 13:00 minute mark. However, The Bearcats would answer the run by going on a 8-4 run of their own. After a Guiot breakaway steal and a layup, a Gabrovsek three and a Desi Barmore old fashioned three point play, The Bearcats closed to within one at 68-67 with 11:12 remaining.

Each team began to trade punches as the game went back and forth with Missouri Southern up 79-77 with 6:57 remaining in the game. The Lions would go on a 5-3 run for the next two minutes to push their lead to four 84-80 with 4:43 remaining. The Bearcats would find themselves out matched on the interior as the Lions would go inside for three possessions in a row, and each possession would result in a bucket. This would open the score up to 93-87 with a little under a minute remaining in regulation.

SBU would not quit as Stephens would find the basket from long range and the Bearcats would pull within three 93-90 with 30 seconds remaining. SBU would put up three shots from distance only to find themselves unsuccessful in their efforts. After a foul and free throws from The Lions, the score was 95-90 with 15 seconds remaining. The Bearcats would pull within three after a goal tending call would put the score at 95-92 with 11 seconds remaining. A quick SBU foul and a successful back end of a double bonus shot from the charity strip, the Lions would push the lead to four at 96-92 with 8 seconds to go in the contest. A last second two from Stephens would fall but wouldn't be enough for the Bearcats as they fell 96-94 to Missouri Southern.

Scoring for the Bearcats tonight would go as follows: Desi Barmore would lead the way with 22, Menas Stephens and Preston Guiot would each finish with 17, Rashaad Brown-Peterson and Jaywuan Hill would finish with 9, Afam Obukwelo and David Gabrovsek would end the game with 8 a piece and Tate Larsen would round out the scoring for the Bearcats with 4 points. Stephens posted his second straight double-double with 10 rebounds, while Larsen and Guiot both had 6 assists.

SBU will return to action on Tuesday, February 4 when they travel to Pittsburg, Kansas to take on Pittsburg State. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.