Preview: American Midwest Conference Tournament Final

Erik Holth, CBC Sports Information Director

            Conway, Ark. – For the fourth time since joining the American Midwest Conference in 2015, Central Baptist College men's basketball will try to win the AMC Tournament. Their opponent tomorrow night is the AMC regular season champion, the Columbia Cougars with tipoff from the Arena at Southwell Complex scheduled for 7 p.m. and, if you are attending in person, tickets must be pre-purchased at the link on our website.

GAME NOTES

• CBC is 2-1 all-time in AMC Tournament Finals: A 71-63  on March 5, 2019 @ Park, a 99-95 loss on March 9, 2020 vs. Harris-Stowe State and an 89-54 win on March 2, 2021 vs. Columbia
• The Mustangs have beaten the Cougars in their only meetings in the AMC Tournament, which includes a 90-80 overtime win in the 2020 semifinals
• The teams split their regular-season meetings at home, with CBC winning 75-72 in Conway and Columbia winning 71-61 in Columbia
• Dating back to 1999 the #3 seed has won the tournament three times, once in 2011, once in 2018,  and once in 2020 while the #1 seed has won 13 times, including last season
• The three seed is 3-6 all-time in the tournament final
• This will be the seventh time since 1999 that the final has been played in Columbia
• Gabe Johnson (15), TaJuan Johnson (12) and Braylon Steen (11), were the only Mustangs to reach double figures scoring the last time these two teams met
• The Mustangs come into the game averaging 76.3 points per game on 46 percent shooting from the field, 34 percent from three and 69 percent at the free throw line
• Columbia is averaging 76.2 points per game on 45 percent shooting from the field, 31 percent from three and 72 percent at the free throw line
• The Cougars hold the rebounding edge, 42 per game to 36.3 per game
• CBC is forcing 12.6 turnovers per game while Columbia is forcing just 11 per game
• Both teams are stingy on the defensive end of the floor, with CBC holding opponents to 65.5 points per game on 42 percent shooting from the field and 30 percent from three while CC is allowing just 64.7 points per game on 39 percent shooting from the field and 31 percent from three

There will be a watch party for the game in the Dining Hall tomorrow night at 7 p.m.