#MustangsWin! CBC Opens 2024 With Hard Fought Win Over Cumberland!

Erik Holth, CBC Sports Information Director

            Conway, Ark. – Playing for the first time in the 2024 calendar year, Central Baptist College men's basketball returned to the court at A.R. Reddin Fieldhouse tonight for their penultimate non-conference matchup with the Phoenix of Cumberland University. CBC (10-4) led by two at halftime and fought off a second half CU (4-10) charge to earn their ninth non-conference win 78-73.

            Tomas Mikyska led three Mustangs in double figures scoring which included Devin Foster and Jonas Carlisle. The Mustangs threw a block party, turning away 10 Phoenix attempts at the rim.

GAME FLOW

            E.J. Anderson opened the scoring with a three 12 seconds into the game and the teams would trade the lead a couple of times before Mikyska's first bucket made it 5-4 1:48 into the game. A three from Mikyska on the next possession made it 8-4 before CU retook the lead with a mini 5-0 run. Foster gave the lead back to CBC at 10-9 and CBC would hold the lead until the 8:15 mark when CU tied the score at 24 apiece. Another tie and another lead came for CBC and Mikyska's jumper with 6:23 remaining in the half put CBC up 28-26 and they would lead the rest of the half, taking a 37-35 lead to the halftime break.

            A layup from Sage Borbon 20 seconds into the second half stretched the lead to 39-35 and CBC was able to keep CU at arms length before pushing the lead to 54-46 with 12:59 left to play. The lead stayed between four to eight points until 1:19 left in the game when CU cut it to two. CBC held CU scoreless over that final 1:19 and iced the game at the free throw line.

MUSTANG NOTES

• Mikyska had a career-high 18 points on 8-12 from the field  and chipped in with seven rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot
• Foster had 14 points, six rebounds, a pair of assists and five blocked shots
• Carlisle also had 14 points and led the way in rebounding with eight while handing out four assists and making three steals and a blocked shot
• Foster's five blocks made him the 10^th player ever to record five or more in a game (on 19 occasions)
• The Mustangs recorded 10 blocks as a team for the sixth time in program history and the first time since last February against Williams Baptist

UP NEXT

            CBC returns to American Midwest Conference play on Tuesday night when they host the Eagles of Williams Baptist University at A.R. Reddin Fieldhouse. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.