BU will take on MidAmerica Nazarene University at 7 p.m. tonight in Olathe with the Heart of America Athletic Conference championship on the line. The Wildcats split the regular season series against the Pioneers with MNU defeating BU 79-68 in Olathe and the ‘Cats coming out on top 71-67 in Collins Center.
Regardless of the result of tonight’s game, BU will make an appearance in the NAIA National Tournament, which begins March 14. Here is a recap of how Baker has advanced to the conference title game.
QUARTERFINALS AGAINST BENEDICTINE<strong>QUARTERFINALS AGAINST BENEDICTINE</strong> QUARTERFINALS AGAINST BENEDICTINE
After losing to Benedictine College Feb. 23 in overtime, the Baker University men’s basketball team won when it mattered most against BC with a 55-41 victory in the quarterfinals of the HAAC Postseason Tournament.
“It feels good, especially you know, being that it was the first time that (Baker) had had a home playoff game in 10 years,” junior Jordan Honore said. “It feels good to get that sour taste out of our mouth.”
The game was another defensive battle with Benedictine leading 2-0 after nearly six minutes played in the contest, but BU scrapped with BC and went into the break with a 20-15 advantage.
“That is what our team tries to take pride in are those tough and ugly games,” junior Kevin Lysaught said. “We’re trying to be the toughest team in the league.”
The Ravens came flying out of the gates after halftime, though, and took the lead 24-20 with a 9-0 run to force a Baker timeout.
“I was upset in the timeout because I thought we squandered some easy (opportunities on offense) and then we let them get some easy (opportunities on offense),” head coach Brett Ballard said.
BU then responded with five straight points with a basket from junior Baba Diallo and a traditional 3-point play from Honore.
The Ravens and Wildcats fought back and forth until BU went on an 11-0 run to take a 42-34 lead with five minutes left. Benedictine was unable to make a late comeback like it did six days earlier and the ’Cats advanced in the postseason tournament.
The win was the first home conference playoff win for the Wildcats in over a decade, but BU had to go on the road to play in the semifinals against Evangel University.
SEMIFINALS AGAINST EVANGEL<strong>SEMIFINALS AGAINST EVANGEL</strong> SEMIFINALS AGAINST EVANGEL
The third time was a charm for the Baker University men’s basketball team against Evangel University as the Wildcats defeated the Crusaders 73-66 in the semifinals of the HAAC Tournament.
The Wildcats jumped out to an early 11-4 lead with the help of 3-pointers from sophomore Todd Eils, junior Corey Anderson and senior Joe Wachter.
The Crusaders fought back to tie the game at 20-20 midway through the first half, but the Wildcats responded with three straight buckets to extend their lead back to 26-20.
Evangel answered with back-to-back 3-pointers to even the game at 26-26. EU took a brief lead before Baker ended the half on an 11-5 run to go into the break with a 41-34 advantage.
EU battled back just like it did in the first half to tie the game at 47-47, but the Wildcats did not get rattled in the road environment. The Crusaders and ‘Cats exchanged two field goals before BU scored five straight points to lead 56-51 with 8:30 remaining.
Evangel would stay in it as they trailed 68-65 with a chance to tie it with 52 seconds to go, but the Wildcats knocked down free throws down the stretch to secure their spot in the HAAC Championship Game.