MBB Game Preview: WBU vs Mission (Feb. 11 | 7:30 PM)

WALNUT RIDGE,Ark. (2/10/25) – The Williams Baptist University men's basketball team is set to take on Mission on Tuesday, Feb. 11 inside the Southerland-Mabee Center.

GAME INFORMATION

WILLIAMS BAPTIST EAGLES (4-16, 1-13 AMC) vs MISSION PATRIOTS  (6-14, 4-9 AMC)
Game info: Tuesday, Feb. 11 - 7:30 p.m. CST - Southerland-Mabee Center (Walnut Ridge, Ark.)
Live stats: https://wbueagles.com/sports/mbkb/2024-25/boxscores/20250211_15g5.xml
Live video: https://wbueagles.com/watch 

MATCHUP HISTORY

Last Meeting: Jan. 7, 2025 (MU 107-93)
Current Streak: MU W1

WBU QUICK FACTS

2024-25 Record: 4-16 (1-13 AMC)
Current Streak: L10
2023-24 Record: 13-13 (5-9 AMC)
2023-24 Postseason: None
Head Coach: Josh Austin (14th season)
HC Record: 263-259
HC Record at WBU: 183-188 (116-136 AMC)
Assistant Coach: Noah Ellis (1st season)

ABOUT MISSION

2024-25 Record: 6-14 (4-9 AMC)
Current Streak: L5
2023-24 Record: 15-11
2023-24 Postseason: Entered the 2024 NCCAA National Championship Tournament as a No. 3 seed, lost in the first round to No. 6 SAGU American Indian College 80-64, then beat No. 7 Asbury 89-80 and lost to Alice Lloyd 95-86 in the consolation bracket
Head Coach: Dallas Meinders (1st year)
Assistant Coaches: Darin Meinders, Randy Farris, Tyler Robertson, Rylan Pryor

MU NOTABLES

• Mission is coming off a 78-73 loss to Crowley's Ridge on Saturday, Feb. 8 at home in Springfield, Mo.

• Jacques Thomas led the way with 21 points on 5-for-16 shooting.  Thomas also knocked down 11 of 15 free throw attempts

• Kevin Sorrells Jr., Eli'Jah Smith, and Quinn Kusgen all finished in double figures in the loss

• The Patriots went 24-for-66 (36.4 percent) from the field

• Crowley's Ridge out-shot MU, going 30-for-65 (46.2 percent) on the night

• The game featured seven lead changes

• MU averages 78.6 points per game (5th AMC) while opponents score an average of 83.3 PPG (8th AMC)

• Jacques Thomas leads in scoring average for MU with 16.2 PPG (3rd AMC)

• Eli'Jah Smith leads the Patriots on the boards with an average of 6.0 rebounds per game (10th AMC)

• The Patriots average 13.9 offensive rebounds per game (2nd AMC), and 40.6 rebounds per game (3rd AMC)

• The Patriots were picked to finish fifth in the AMC Preseason Coaches Poll

LAST TIME OUT

• Williams fell to UHSP in its last game by the final score of 83-76

• Amarion Wilson and Elisha Cofield tied for the team lead with 16 points

• Cooper Rabjohn, Trahe Qualls, and DJ Townsend all finished with 11 points

• Five Eagles finished in double figures

• Elisha Cofield also took the team-lead in rebounds with nine

• The Eagles went 32-for-71 (45.1 percent) from the field while UHSP went 31-for-52 (59.6 percent)

• WBU won the rebound battle 37-26

• The Eagles scored 18 second chance points

• Both teams scored a combined 90 points in the paint (WBU 46, UHSP 44)

WBU NOTABLES

• Amarion Wilson leads the team in scoring average with 14.6 points per game (9th AMC).  His season is highlighted by a 34-point performance against William Woods (Nov. 23)

• Elisha Cofield leads the team on the glass, averaging 7.9 rebounds per game (2nd AMC) with a season-high of 14 against Harris-Stowe (Jan. 23)

• The Eagles average 71.7 points per game (8th AMC), while opponents average 81.0 points against them (7th AMC).

• WBU is in the midst of a nine-game losing streak

• Williams was picked to finish sixth in the AMC Preseason Coaches Poll

AMC PRESEASON COACHES POLL

1 Columbia (78)
2 Central Baptist (71)
3 William Woods (65)
4 Missouri Baptist (62)
5 Mission (47)
6 Williams Baptist (42)
7 Harris-Stowe (27)
8 Crowley's Ridge (24)
9 Hannibal-LaGrange (23)
10 UHSP (11)

SCHEDULE NOTES

• Next, the Eagles will go on the road to face Central Baptist on Thursday, Feb. 13.  Tip-off against the Mustangs is set for 7:30 p.m. from Conway, Ark.

• Williams' 2024-25 schedule features 14 home games inside the Southerland-Mabee Center