As MidAmerica Nazarene University missed five of six free throws down the stretch, the Pioneers gave the Baker University men’s basketball team a chance to capitalize and send the game to overtime.
Junior Julian Mills did just that as he drilled a 3-pointer as time expired in regulation to tie the game at 78-78. However, the Pioneers kept the Wildcats from seizing momentum and defeated BU 92-87 in overtime Thursday in Collins Center.
“(MNU) was so good offensively in the second half and actually the whole game,” head coach Sean Dooley said. “Our defense wasn’t where it needed to be to win this game. That was the only disappointing thing. Effort wise, I thought our guys fought because it wasn’t a lack of effort that we lost this game.”
The Pioneers jumped out to grab an early 9-2 lead in the first two minutes. MNU’s Connor Langrehr paced the Pioneers by scoring 15 points in the first 10 minutes, but the Wildcats fought back to take a 41-38 lead at halftime.
After sophomore EJ Carter scored the first two points of the second half, MidAmerica Nazarene went on a 10-0 run to go up 43-38.
The Wildcats made it a one-point game on three occasions in the second half, but were never able to take the lead again.
MNU appeared to be pulling away late as it pushed its lead to 77-68 with 2:13 to play, but Mills’ 3-pointer capped off a 9-0 for the Wildcats to send the game to overtime.
“We just wanted to make sure we got a good shot and Julian stepped up and made the shot,” Dooley said. “He was pretty good for us all night, too. I’m glad he stepped up and made it to give us a chance.”
The Pioneers outscored the Wildcats 14-9 in the extra five minutes, though, and handed BU its second straight overtime loss.
Senior Ben Steinlage led the Wildcats with 23 points and seven rebounds. Carter netted 13 points, followed by senior Jordan Honore and Chris Lockhart who tallied 11 points apiece.
Langrehr cooled off after the first 10 minutes, but was the leading scorer for MNU with 22 points. Four other Pioneers joined Langrehr in double figures.
The Wildcats, 9-7 overall and 2-4 in conference play, will try to rebound from Thursday’s loss against Graceland University at 4 p.m. in Lamoni, Iowa.
