The men’s basketball team lost 93-78 to the No. 5 William Penn Statesmen on Monday in the Collins Center. The loss knocked the Wildcats to to 7-8 overall and 3-5 in conference play.

William Penn came into the game scoring more than 95 points per game and showed that it can score from anywhere on the floor. The Statesmen were also coming off of a 90-89 heartbreak loss to Evangel on Saturday.

At the half William Penn led Baker 45-33 and the Statesmen were shooting 52 percent from the field and 70 percent from the free throw line. They also out-rebounded Baker 25-12.

Baker started the second half off hot and hung in with William Penn for the first 10 minutes of the half. With 8:48 to play the Wildcats had cut the lead to 68-60. But as soon as the Wildcats showed signs of hope the Statesmen put their offense into the top gear and pulled away.

William Penn is 14-2 overall and remains at the top of the Heart of America Athletic Conference standings at 7-1. The Wildcats are tied for eighth in the Heart.

Senior Manny Barnes was the team’s leading scorer with 16 points, junior Javeion Gray scored 14, and junior Tyrome Parker finished with 13.

This was only phase one of Baker’s three-game week. The Wildcats will take the road to Peru State on Thursday and then to Grand View on Saturday.