Late Rally Dooms Eagles Against Spartans

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (1/25/24) - The Williams Baptist University men's basketball team lost to Missouri Baptist 74-65 Thursday evening at the Southerland-Mabee Center.

The game featured 10 lead changes and seven ties and neither team led by more than nine points throughout the night. For much of the second half both teams traded baskets for the lead until the Spartans used a late run that the Eagles were unable to recover from. 

WBU went up 65-64 on a jump shot by Ben Keton with 3:41 to go in the game, but Missouri Baptist went on a 10-0 run in the game's waning minutes to build a 74-65 edge. The Eagles struggled to find open looks against the Spartans stifling defense in the final minutes and could not find the form that they had earlier in the half.

TJ Clardy recorded a double-double for Williams with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Ben Keton added 13 points. Duke Hardin was also in double figures with 10 points. 

Both teams were evenly matched throughout the game, but Missouri Baptist held a shooting edge and knocked down 48.4 percent (31-of-64) of attempts from the floor, while Williams made 41.3 percent (26-of-63) of its attempts. 

The Eagles struggled from beyond the arc, making just 23.1 percent of their attempts, and the Spartans held a 42-37 edge on the boards. 

With the loss WBU fell to 10-7 and 2-4 in the American Midwest Conference. The squad will return to action against Williams Woods on Saturday, Jan. 27 at the SMC. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m.