Jeremy Wright,
Sports Information Intern
The Freed-Hardeman University men’s basketball team (10-4, 7-2 AMC) fell to Missouri Baptist (11-5, 7-3 AMC) 85-83 on Saturday.
The first half was a game of runs. Missouri Baptist struck first, scoring the first six points of the game. The Lions would respond and go on a 8-2 run, before Missouri Baptist would go on a 8-2 run of their own for a 16-8 lead early in the half.
Missouri Baptist would lead 19-11 before the Lions would notch a 14-5 run to get their first lead of the game at 25-24. From there, the Lions put together a 12-2 run to stretch their lead to 11 late in the half. For the remainder of the half, the two teams traded baskets, and the Lions held a 50-40 lead at halftime.
To start the second half, the Lions came out strong as their lead grew to 14 at 60-46. Missouri Baptist would go on a 10-0 run to cut the lead to four points, and the teams would stay close and trade buckets for the next few minutes until the Spartans used a 6-0 run to take the lead at 74-73.
The Lions offense would go on a cold streak, and the Spartans would gain the momentum. The two went back-and-forth through the final minutes ofthe game, but in the end John Musselwhite’s half-court attempt fell short, giving Missouri Baptist the win.
The Lions had three double-figure scores in the loss. Kortland Martin scored his 1,000th career point against the Spartans and finished with 22 points. John Musselwhite added 20 points, and Yuryk Lazard finished with 16 points on the day.The Lions will play tonight, Thursday Jan. 16, against Lindenwood-Belleville. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Brewer Sports Center.
