MBB Game Preview: WBU at Missouri Baptist (Feb. 15 | 4:00 PM)

WALNUT RIDGE,Ark. (2/14/25) – The Williams Baptist University men's basketball team will travel to St. Louis, Mo. to take on Missouri Baptist in an American Midwest Conference matchup.

GAME INFORMATION

WILLIAMS BAPTIST EAGLES (4-17, 1-14 AMC) vs MISSOURI BAPTIST SPARTANS (11-14, 8-7 AMC)
Game info: Saturday, Feb. 15 - 4:00 p.m. CST - Carl and Deloris Petty SRC (St. Louis, Mo.)
Live stats: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=556901
Live video: https://www.spartandigitalnetwork.com/ 

MATCHUP HISTORY

Last Meeting: Jan. 11, 2025 (MBU 94-77)
Current Streak: MBU W3

WBU QUICK FACTS

2024-25 Record: 4-18 (1-15 AMC)
Current Streak: L12
2023-24 Record: 13-13 (5-9 AMC)
2023-24 Postseason: None
Head Coach: Josh Austin (14th season)
HC Record: 263-261
HC Record at WBU: 183-190 (116-138 AMC)
Assistant Coach: Noah Ellis (1st season)

ABOUT MISSOURI BAPTIST

2024-25 Record: 11-14 (8-7 AMC)
Current Streak: W1
2023-24 Record: 21-10 (10-4 AMC)
2023-24 Postseason: None
Head Coach: Taylor Jarvis (1st season)
Assistant Coaches: Chris Forrest, Marwan Gadallah, Harley Storey

MBU NOTABLES

• The Spartans took down Crowley's Ridge 100-75 in its last game on Thursday, Feb. 13

• Evan Palmquist led the scoring charge with 19 points, while Breven McMullen followed with 18

• Five Spartans finished in the double figures in scoring (Palmquist (19), McMullen (18), Taiden (15), Soll (14), Thai (14))

• Elder Thai led the Spartans in rebounds with eight on the night

• MBU went 34-for-63 (54.0 percent) from the floor and knocked down 14-of-28 (50.0 percent) three-point attempts

• The Spartans took a 46-36 lead into halftime after ending the first period on a 14-2 run

• MBU caught fire in the second half, shooting 61.29 percent from the floor and going 9-for-12 on three-point attempts to secure the win

• Breven McMullen and Thai Elder each knocked down four triples for Missouri Baptist

• MBU averages 80.4 points per game (4th AMC) while holding opponents to an average of 79.9 (6th AMC)

• Evan Palmquist leads the Spartans on offense with an average of 15.5 points per game (4th AMC)

• Connor Redrow has the team-lead on the glass with an average of 5.2 boards per night (13th AMC)

• The Spartans were picked to finish fourth in the AMC Preseason Coaches Poll

LAST TIME OUT

• WBU lost its last matchup to Central Baptist 102-58 on Thursday night 

• DJ Townsend led WBU with 16 points on 7-for-13 shooting from the floor

• Elisha Cofield took the team-lead in rebounds with seven

• The Eagles went 24-for-63 (38.1 percent) from the field, while CBC shot at a 50.7 percent clip

• WBU lost the rebound battle 52-29

• The Mustangs began the game on a 13-2 run and never looked back, piling on for a 57-25 lead at halftime

WBU NOTABLES

• Amarion Wilson leads the team in scoring average with 13.6 points per game (11th AMC).  His season is highlighted by a 34-point performance against William Woods (Nov. 23)

• Elisha Cofield leads the team on the glass, averaging 8.2 rebounds per game (2nd AMC) with a season-high of 14 against Harris-Stowe (Jan. 23)

• The Eagles average 71.2 points per game (8th AMC), while opponents average 81.9 points against them (7th AMC).

• The Eagles are third in the AMC in 3PT% this season at a 35.9 percent clip

• WBU is in the midst of a 12-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 return home for Senior Night in the final game of the year against Hannibal-LaGrange on Thursday, Feb. 20.  Tip-off against the Trojans is set for 7:30 p.m. from inside the Southerland-Mabee Center.

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