The men’s basketball team had a rough week of play, losing to the MidAmerica Nazarene University Pioneers and the Central Methodist University Eagles. These two losses make nine-straight for the Wildcats, who have not yet found a way to win in 2015 with their last win dating back to Dec. 15 against the Haskell University Indians.

MNU

Thursday at home against MidAmerica, the men looked to even the score against their bitter rival from Olathe. The Pioneers came into the Collins Center with a home win against the Wildcats and were determined to get another one.

The Wildcats played an efficient first half, shooting 50 percent from the field and the 3-point line while holding the Pioneers to 18 percent from behind the arc, keeping the score at a nonthreatening 32-31 mark with MNU on top. Then, in the second half, the Wildcats fell apart, shooting 34 percent from the field and 20 percent from three.

“I thought we did some good things in the first half,” head coach Sean Dooley said. “But they out-hustled us and outplayed us and that’s what killed us.”

MNU was more efficient than the Wildcats were, shooting 92 percent from the charity stripe and pulling down 34 rebounds against the ‘Cats’ 24. As a result, the Pioneers came out on top 75-60.

Dooley hoped that his players would keep their heads up and stay prepared for their next game against CMU.

“Hopefully our guys bounce back and give us an even better effort on Saturday,” Dooley said after Thursday’s loss.

CMU

On Saturday in Fayette, Missouri, the Wildcats came out firing against the Eagles from Central Methodist University. Senior guard Jared Fulks came away with a team and career-high 28 points on the night, shooting 76 percent from the field and 100 percent from behind the arc with two three pointers.

“I was just following the game plan,” Fulks said. “Coach said he wanted us to pound it inside with the dribble or the post feed, so any time I saw an open lane or a good opportunity that I am capable of, I punched it in.”

Senior guard EJ Carter put in 25 points of his own, shooting 58 percent from the field and 100 percent from three with three. Freshman guard Brock Mick also contributed 7 assists in 31 minutes of play.

“We were just being athletes doing everything that we could to win the game,” Fulks said.

The key to Central Methodist’s 86-76 win was senior Mitchell Farr, who went 13-19 shooting, 9-11 from three, and knocked down his last seven trifectas to lead all scorers with 37 points. Farr’s great performance was his career high for points and field goals made.

The loss drops the ‘Cats record to 7-14 on the season and 1-10 in the HAAC.

The Baker men will get another chance for a conference win at 4 p.m. on Saturday in the Collins Center as they host Graceland University.