Box Score

Joplin, Mo. – The Southwest Baptist University men's basketball team suffered a setback at Missouri Southern on Thursday evening 80-63. With the loss, the Bearcats fall to 7-6 (2-5 MIAA) on the season.

Missouri Southern opened up the contest with four straight points before the Bearcats were able to get on the scoreboard off of a Brian Patterson free throw with 17:55 left in the first half. After MSSU went up 6-1, SBU responded with layups from Kalund Brown and Damian Progmet to pull SBU within one at 6-5. The Bearcats then took their first lead of the game off of a Patterson layup with 13:36 left in the half, and again had a lead (11-10) off of a jumper from Andy Campbell with 12:54 left in the half. MSSU quickly went on a 10-0 run to re-take the lead, and pushed their lead to double-digits with 5:19 left in the half. The Bearcats  continued to hang with the Lions, and a pair of free throws from Kai Woodfall with 4:08 left in the half cut the deficit to four (27-23). However, the Bearcats went into the break trailing 33-26.

In the second half Southern quickly pushed their lead to double-digits, and would hold SBU at an arm's length away. With 10:05 left in the game Campbell connected on a layup via Patterson, but Southern responded right back with an old-fashioned three-point play. Again the Bearcats cut the deficit to 11 (55-44) with 8:58 to go, but once again MSSU hit another three to stop any momentum the Bearcats built. SBU was unable to get any closer for the remainder of the contest as the Bearcats would eventually fall 80-63.

Kai Woodfall and Kalehl Brown led the way offensively for the Bearcats with 10 points apiece, while Logan Hovey and Brian Patterson added 8 points each. As a team SBU shot 40.0% from the field, 30.8% from beyond the arc, and 83.3% from the free throw line.

SBU will return to action on Saturday, January 9 when they travel to Pittsburg State. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. from Pittsburg, Kansas.