Box Score Bolivar, Mo. - The Southwest Baptist University men's basketball team played a strong game against #25 Central Missouri but fell in overtime to the Mules 67-64. With the loss, SBU drops to 9-13 (4-9 MIAA) on the season.

The Bearcats opened up the contest with back-to-back buckets from Finn Delany and Daymond Cowlah to take an early 4-0 lead on the visiting Mules. Over five minutes into the contest SBU still held a four-point lead (9-5), but UCM used a 7-0 run to take over the lead as SBU trailed 12-9 with 11:42 left in the first half. The Bearcats continued to hang with the Mules, and a Patrick Burke layup with 6:36 left in the first half gave SBU the lead again, but the Mules would stretch their lead back to five before Derrick Stewart drained a halfcourt three to beat the buzzer as the Bearcats went into the half trailing 29-27.

After UCM opened the second half with a bucket, a Menas Stephens jumper followed by a Stewart three gave SBU a one point lead at 32-31. The Mules quickly responded with seven straight points to re-take the lead, and pushed their lead to a game high 8 (47-39) with 9:08 to go in regulation. However, SBU fought back behind five straight points from Stewart to cut the UCM lead back down to one (47-46) with 7:49 to go. The Bearcats continued to hang tight with the Mules, and a layup from Cowlah with 2:22 left in regulation gave the Bearcats the lead once again. SBU used strong defense down the stretch, and a pair of free throws from Stephens put the Bearcats up 56-53 with 18 seconds left. However, UCM would hit a three with three seconds left to force overtime, with regulation ending in a 56-56 tie.

In the overtime period UCM scored the first three points, taking a 59-56 lead. The Bearcats responded with a bucket from Stewart, cutting the UCM lead back to one, but the Mules pushed their lead to four (63-59) with 47 seconds left in overtime. After strong defense, and missed free throws from UCM, Cowlah drained a three from the top of the key with 12 seconds left to cut the UCM lead down to one (63-62). After a pair of free throws from UCM, Cowlah drove the lane and laid in a layup to cut the deficit back down to one (65-64), but UCM hit both free throws and a Stephens three at the buzzer came up just short as the Bearcats fell 67-64 in overtime.

Menas Stephens posted another double-double, continuing his strong season. Stephens pulled down a game high 13 rebounds to go along with 13 points. Derrick Stewart produced a season high 19 points, while Daymond Cowlah added 12 points in the loss. As a team, SBU shot 35.5% from the field, 28.0% from beyond the arc, and 72.2% from the free throw line.

The Bearcats will take the weekend off before returning to action on Wednesday, February 11 when they travel to Lindenwood. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. from St. Charles, Missouri.