Huge close to the first half by Spartans buries Eutectics

(Photo courtesy of Adam Samson)

CHESTERFIELD, MO - The Missouri Baptist Spartans made it 28 straight wins against UHSP with an 86-53 win at the Carl & Deloris Petty Sports and Recreation Complex. Mujtaba Alkhaldi led the Spartans with 29 points and 11 rebounds while Nico Hill scored 23 points and grabbed eight boards. MoBap played the game only six players available and in uniform as a number of their players were unavailable following a mass ejection in their most recent contest Saturday against William Woods.

Missouri Baptist used a 20-point surge that spanned 6:50 of the first half to turn a six-point game into a runaway win for the home club. Landon Engelage made a layup about halfway through the first half to make it 29-23 game in favor of MBU. The next time the Eutectics scored, Jas Suvalija drilled a three with 2:54 left in the half, but the Spartans still had a commanding lead of 49-26. Missouri Baptist ended the half on a 10-0 run to lead 59-26 at recess as the Spartans outscored the visitors 30-2 over the final 9:43 of the half. UHSP has struggled defensively all season as they entered the game allowing 104 points-per-game to their opponents. In the 20-0 run for the Spartans, the Eutectics gave up five layups and a pair of dunks.

The Spartans had another lengthy run in the second half scoring ten straight over a 4:45 span to cap a stretch of outscoring UHSP 15-5.

Jas Suvalija led UHSP with 12 points and five rebounds as the only Eutectic in double figures. Brady Bowers added nine points while Kyan Arrandale and Braylon Rios each scored eight points. The Spartans connected at 55.4% while the Eutectics were 33.9% from the floor. The Purple and Gold did drill ten three-points as MoBap hit just three. MBU won the rebound battle 47-29 and had just six turnovers to 13 for UHSP. The Spartans scored and incredible 74 of their 86 points in the paint while UHSP had just 18 from the lane. Missouri Baptist beat the Eutectics for the 28th consecutive time.

The Eutectics (1-12, 0-2) are back on the floor on Thursday when they continue a three-game road trip this week and visit William Woods. They finish out the week on Saturday in Columbia against the Cougars. UHSP is back at home a week from Thursday on January 18 when Central Baptist rolls into the UHSP Gymnasium.