The Wildcats were unable to contain Central Methodist University at home, finishing the first round of conference play with an 83-50 loss.
The team was led by the efforts of junior Malcolm Greer and seniors Nick Iversen and Heath Baird, scoring 11 points each.
After playing the Eagles evenly during the first few minutes, the Wildcats could not find a basket and finished the half 20-41. The Wildcats were able to put up 30 in the in second half, but it wasn’t enough to catch up.
Head coach Rick Weaver said the team had too many turnovers on the offensive end and lacked intensity on defense.
“We didn’t play well at either end,” Weaver said. “We didn’t play well enough defensively to hang in there against a quality team.”
Central Methodist, currently ranked No. 2 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference standings, will host the Wildcats Thursday.
Baird said the team plans to make a few adjustments, but the team will have to bring more intensity.
“We just need to bring the energy every night,” Baird said. “We have to come out as hard as we can and play together.”
The Wildcats took home a 96-94 overtime win against Graceland University Saturday. The team is now 1-for-3 in overtime games this season.
The team had five players in double figures and was led by Greer and junior Brock Entner, scoring 26 and 24 points respectively. Senior Justin Houser finished the game with a double-double, scoring 16 points and grabbing 12 boards.
The Wildcats went 2-7 during Christmas break and currently are ranked in the middle of the HAAC.
Houser said the team made some progress over break and now needs to finish games when they come down to the wire.
“The teams we lost to were for the most part really close games,” he said. “There were a few blowouts, but in those games we didn’t play well at all. Those teams don’t know how good we can be.”
In the second go-around against conference teams, Weaver believes his team will surprise its opponents.
“We’re not the deepest team in the league and we haven’t got a big margin for error, but we’re hoping we can make some noise down the stretch,” he said.
The Wildcats lost at home to Benedictine College Thursday. The team travels Saturday to Lindenwood.
