Bolivar, Mo. – The Southwest Baptist University men’s basketball team fell at the hands of Pittsburg State on Saturday afternoon, 85-72. The loss drops SBU’s record to 10-16 (5-15 MIAA) on the season.
Kai Woodfall started the game off with 2 free throws with PSU shooting 1 of 2 free throws quickly afterwards. Woodfall turned the ball around and scored on a layup but PSU answered with their own layup keeping the contest close at 4-3 SBU. Kalehl Brown put up a layup before PSU went on a 5-0 run to take the lead 8-6 with 16:32 left in the first half. After a Brown free-throw and PSU jumper, Brown dished it off to Woodfall who nailed a 3-pointer to tie the game 10-10. PSU fought back and went on a short 4-0 run before a Marley Biyendolo layup pulled the Bearcats within 2 points (14-12 PSU). A PSU 3-pointer was made which SBU responded with a Logan Hovey 3-pointer with 10:57 left in the first half. PSU went on a 6-0 run extending their lead to 23-15. The scoring went back and forth until a 6-0 run with shots from Kalehl Brown and Cartier Dean pulled the Bearcats within a single point (29-28 PSU) with 4:59 left on the clock. After free throws by the Gorillas, the Bearcats retied the game 31-31 with a free-throw from Dean and a layup by Nate Nahirny. Shortly afterwards, the Bearcats were sent to the line with 2 back-to-back fouls where they were 4-4 putting them in the lead 35-33 with 2:07 left. Despite shots from PSU, a Dean 3-pointer and Nahirny layup kept the Bearcats on top heading into the half 40-36.
PSU opened up the second half with a layup that was quickly responded to with a Hovey layup. PSU then went on a 20-0 run which was capped off with another Hovey layup bringing the score to 58-44 PSU with 11:29 left in the game. The scoring then went to both teams with PSU holding the lead over the Bearcats. Woodfall then went on a solo 6-0 run followed up quickly by 2 free throws by Brown putting the score at 74-60 PSU with 3:52 on the clock. SBU continued to fight but every shot was answered by PSU who maintained their lead. Andy Campbell then went on a solo 5-0 run down the stretch but SBU would end up falling 85-72.
Kai Woodfall led the Bearcats in scoring with a career high 18 points followed up by Cartier Dean, Logan Hovey, and Kalehl Brown who each had 12 apiece. As a team, the Bearcats shot 47.7% from the field, 47.6% from behind the 3-point line, and 69.0% from the free-throw line.
The Bearcats will be on the road as they head to face off against Lincoln University on Wednesday, February 24. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Jefferson City, Missouri.
