#MustangsWin! CBC Avenges Earlier Loss With Comeback Win Over Missouri Baptist!

Erik Holth, CBC Sports Information Director

            St. Louis, Mo. – Playing their first game on the road since Jan. 5, Central Baptist College men's basketball took on the Spartans of Missouri Baptist University tonight in a critical American Midwest Conference matchup inside the Petty Student Resources Center. CBC (15-7, 7-3 AMC) trailed at halftime but outscored MBU (12-11, 8-3 AMC) 38-26 in the second half to win 71-61 and avenge their home loss to the Spartans earlier this season.

            Braylon Steen led the way in scoring and he was joined in double figures by TaJuan Johnson. CBC had the rebounding advantage and forced 11 more turnovers than they committed to help them overcome a halftime deficit for just the third time this season.

GAME FLOW

            CBC opened the game by scoring the first four points thanks to a three from Devin Foster and a free throw by Steen. CBC held the lead until the 16:15 mark when MBU took a 9-8 lead. CBC responded on the ensuing possession, however, reclaiming the one point cushion and moving it to four after forcing their second of 21 turnovers on the night. The lead ballooned to 17-11 before MBU went on a 7-0 run to retake the lead at 18-17 with 10:44 left in the first half. The Mustangs would stretch the lead to three, 21-18, with 10:06 left in the half before MBU went on a 7-0 run to take a 25-21 lead, and they would lead until the 1:06 mark when Jalen Adams made a layup to make it 33-32. The final points of the half went to Missouri Baptist on an old fashioned three point play and CBC went to the locker room trailing 35-33.

            16 seconds into the second half, MBU stretched the lead to 38-33, their largest of the game before CBC started a 22-2 run that lasted until the 11:55 mark to lead 55-40. Following that run, CBC went cold and MBU went on an 18-3 run over the next 7:44 to tie the game at 58 and setup a wild ending. Over the final four minutes, it was all CBC, as the Mustangs closed on a 13-3 run, spurred by the Johnsons, Steen and Devin Foster to bring the game to a close and avenge the loss from earlier this season.

GAME NOTES

• The all-time series is now tied at 10 wins each
• This was the 30^th career coaching victory for Sam Kohnke
• CBC has now won 15 games or more in seven consecutive seasons
• Steen finished with 19 points
• TaJuan Johnson had 16 off the bench
• Jalen Adams moved past Rod Briggs tonight into sixth on the all-time scoring list with 948 points
• Brevin Brimble had two steals in the game and moved into 10^th on the all-time list with 86, passing former teammate Kelvin Robinson
• This was the fourth time this season that CBC committed 10 or fewer turnovers
• The Mustangs won the rebounding battle 32-29 and outscored MBU 26-7 in points off turnovers

UP NEXT

            The Mustangs head to Columbia, Mo., on Saturday for an AMC tilt with conference leaders, Columbia, looking for the season sweep of the Cougars. Tipoff from the Arena at Southwell Complex is scheduled for 3 p.m.