Eutectics fall just short against Missouri Baptist

(Photo courtesy of Rodrigue Koutoglo)

ST. LOUIS, MO – This one goes in the category of "close, but no cigar". Thai Elder had 23 points and Evan Palmquist added 19 more as Missouri Baptist managed to fight of a resilient UHSP bunch for an 82-73 win. The Eutectics fell short of ending their long losing streak to the Spartans that has now reached 30 dating back to the 1999 season.

The Eutectics fell behind by 11 in the first half, but as halftime approached it was a 10-0 run by UHSP that allowed them to tie the game at 37-37. Elder gave MBU an early ten-point lead at 18-8 on a free throw with 11:15 left in the half. Palmquist then converted a layup to give the Spartans their largest lead of the game, a 25-14 advantage with 8:56 left. After the Purple and Gold had cut the deficit to six, Breven McMullen extended the lead back to double-digits for the Spartans at 37-27 with 3:19 left. That is when the Eutectics went on a game-changing run that kept them in it the rest of the way and nearly led to them pulling off the upset win. Bryant Odunayo had a tremendous game missing just one shot all night as he finished with 14 points, five rebounds and three assists. He buried a triple to cut the ten-point deficit to seven at 37-30. After a couple of Odunayo free throws it was Landon Engelage's turn to connect from distance and it was a 37-35 game. Brock Davis blocked a Taiden Connor shot on the defensive end and after Odunayo grabbed the rebound, he converted on the offensive end and it was all even at 37-37. Palmquist made a pair at the free throw line to put MoBap up at the break 39-37.

The two clubs traded blows through the opening minutes of the second half and every time Missouri Baptist threatened to pull away, UHSP would nail a clutch shot to get right back in it. Elder delivered a powerful dunk just over three minutes into the half to give Sparty a 48-41 lead. Just over a minute later Davis made a layup that cut the margin to four. It was still four at 54-50 when an Odunayo lay-in made it a two-point game. Ahian Barnett scored six straight Eutectic points to keep the Eutectics afloat over a 3:32 stretch and make it a 61-60 contest with 10:39 left. Barnett was at it again with eight-and-a-half to play when he converted a three-point play to again make it a one-point game at 66-65. After a Palmquist missed jumper, UHSP got the rebound and for the first time in the second half had a possession that could have given them the lead. Christian Harwood would miss a left-wing three and fight as they did, the Eutectics could never wrestle the lead away from the Spartans. Engelage hit a layup to keep it close at 76-73, but MoBap scored the final six points to wrap up the win.

Barnett led UHSP with 19 points and Davis added 15 points and nine rebounds. MBU went 8-for-21 from deep while the Eutectics were 5-of-24 as both teams converted 25 field goals. MBU was outstanding holding onto the ball with just six turnovers, but UHSP was not bad with just 13 themselves. The Euts had a two-rebound edge over the Spartans at 34-32.

The Eutectics (5-6, 0-5) have four games left before the Christmas break. That includes an exhibition match against D-I Indiana State on December 21. First though, it is back into AMC play on Saturday with a trip to Walnut Ridge, AR to visit Williams Baptist at 3:00pm. UHSP will return home for their final home game of 2024 when they host Bethel (TN) on Tuesday.