ROLLA, MO -- Missouri S&T Men's Basketball improved to 18-7 on Saturday evening, defeating the Southwest Baptist Bearcats 84-75 on Military Appreciation day in Gibson Arena.
The Miners and Bearcats both start hot offensively, combining for four made triples in the first three minutes and bringing the score to 10-10. Southwest Baptist began to build a lead with a pair of three-pointers from Leo Gayman, moving ahead by as many as seven. Buckets from
Andrew Young (Ballwin, MO/Marquette),
Blaise Beauchamp (Minnetonka, MN/Hopkins), and
Zac Brown (Collinsville, OK/Collinsville) quickly erased that deficit, tying the score again at 22-22. SBU continued to hit from long range though, pushing back to a six-point lead a few minutes later after another three, this time from Barron Silsby. However, the Miners would put together a 14-2 run in the final six minutes of the first quarter, getting a pair of triples from
Alex Benassi (Lee's Summit, MO/Lee's Summit) to send them into halftime ahead 40-34.
SBU's long range proficiency was a factor early in the second half, with the Bearcats tying the game at 42-42 less than two minutes out of halftime after Luke Ogle knocked down a couple of threes. The Bearcats retook the lead at 44-42 but were quickly passed by the Miners again after Beauchamp and Young hit three-points in consecutive possessions. Beauchamp would score nine points in the following four minutes, helping the Miners move ahead by double digits.
The Miners would continue to add to their lead, going up 66-53 following a strong take into the paint through multiple defenders by
Alex Benassi (Lee's Summit, MO/Lee's Summit) at 9:50. The Miners lead by ten or more for most of the remainder of the game, reaching a game-high lead of 14 at 5:08 and slamming down dunks by
Cameron Stovall (St. Louis, MO/Vashon) and
Oliver Kokal (Chesterfield, MO/Parkway Central) late to put the emphatic final touches on the 84-75 victory.
The win snaps a three-game losing streak for the Miners as the team looks to generate some momentum heading into the postseason, having already secured a berth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament. Four Miners scored in double digits, with
Blaise Beauchamp (Minnetonka, MN/Hopkins) eclipsing 20 points for the seventh time this season to lead the Miners in scoring. Young recorded three blocks for the second consecutive game, bringing his season total to 28.
What's Next
Missouri S&T concludes their regular season slate with home games against Lincoln and Drury before heading to the GLVC tournament in March.
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