Wildcats Can't Overcome First Half Deficit, Fall at Home to Mission
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mission (Mo.) (2-4) | 43 | 48 | 91 |
|
Culver-Stockton (MO) (2-3) | 33 | 55 | 88 |
The Culver-Stockton men's basketball team could not overcome a 10-point halftime deficit in a 91-88 loss to Mission (Mo.) University at Charles Field House Tuesday night.
Entering the game with a two-game winning streak, the Wildcats couldn't have played a worse first half in falling behind 43-33 at the halftime break.
The Wildcats shot 45 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes; however committed 13 first half turnovers which led to a 14-8 edge for the Patriots. C-SC was also outscored 10-3 at the free throw line and 15-6 from the 3-point stripe in the opening half.
The second half was a different story as the Wildcats shot a blistering 56 percent from the field and outscored the visitors 12-5 from the foul line, which helped the C-SC claw back into the game.
After the Patriots knocked down two free throws with 2:31 left to extend their lead to 85-75, the Wildcats went on an 11-2 run and pulled to within 87-86 with 12 seconds left after Harrison Lewis drained a 3-pointer.
C-SC quickly fouled but the Patriots made two free throws with 11 seconds left before the Wildcats' Travis Green III drove and was just inside the 3-point line, making a basket with five ticks left.
The Patriots quickly threw the ball the length of the floor and instead on running out the clock, Mission scored a layup with three seconds left.
Given a chance, C-SC got the ball to the front court, and Green got off a running three-point attempt as the buzzer sounded but it came up short.
Green finished with a game-high 31 points, including 23 in the second half, to lead the Wildcats. Lewis came off the bench to score 14 points, while Damar Jenkins and Alex Jackson IV recorded 11 markers each.
The Wildcats out-rebounded the Patriots 43-39 with Lewis grabbing 12 cards to register his first double-double of the season. Jackson contributed seven rebounds.
The Wildcats (2-3) are scheduled to begin Heart of America Athletic Conference play this Saturday, Nov. 15, at Grand View University. Game time is slated for 4 p.m. in Des Moines, Iowa.