Columbia, Mo. – The 5^th-ranked Columbia College men's basketball team dropped a close contest to Missouri Baptist University this evening by a score of 77-74. The Cougars fall to 22-4 on the season and 15-3 with the loss.

After a defensive battle between the teams, the Cougars held a 14-12 lead at the midway point of the first half. The lead changed two more times from there until a three pointer by Stephen Buckner sparked an 11-0 run, giving MBU the 30-18 advantage at the 4:52 minute mark. Columbia worked to cut the deficit and used a 5-0 run, capped off with a Chantel Stanciel three to pull within seven at 30-23.

A three pointer by Nic Reynolds made the score 32-26, however, Jake Terry responded with a three of his own to stretch the Spartan lead back out at 35-26. After another basket by Terry, Malik Ray converted the three point play to end the half making the score 37-29 at intermission.  

The Spartans shot 50 percent from the field while holding the Cougars to a 37 percent clip while also holding a 21-12 advantage on the boards.
MBU maintained a seven point lead and eventually stretched their advantage to double-digits at 50-39 with 12:45 left to play in the game. Columbia gained some momentum and used a 10-2 run to pull within three at the 9:18 minute mark, making the score 52-49. The Spartans responded with five straight points from there, however, Columbia didn't back down as they used a 4-0 run to make it a four point game at 57-53. The teams traded points over the next five minutes and with the Spartans ahead 63-59, MBU used two buckets to go up 67-59.

Just when it seemed that time may have run out for the Cougars Jackson Dubinski hit a three with 32 seconds remaining in the game.  He was fouled in the process and connected on the free-throw, making the four-point play, and bringing the score to 71-65 in favor of the visitors. Dubinski made the contest even closer after a defensive stop and drained another three with 19 seconds remaining. The Cougars fouled almost immediately on the next two trips down the court.  Missouri Baptist made three of the four attempts again stretching their lead.  But Columbia's fight continued and Reynolds and Dubinski netted back-to-back threes putting the Cougars just one-point down with less than five seconds on the clock.  That was it for the Cougars though as they sent the Spartans to the line again, the visitors took a three point lead, and Columbia's last attempt to tie the game fell just short.   

The Cougars shot 39 percent from the field while the Spartans finished shooting 44 percent. MBU also outrebounded Columbia 42-32 for the game. Reynolds led the Cougars with 15 points while Ray and Dubinski chipped in 14 and 10 points, respectively.

The Spartans were led by Buzzell with 16 points.

The Cougars return to the court on Thursday, February 18^th when they travel to Henderson, Tenn. to take on No. 14 Freed-Hardeman University. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.