Ellington

The start to the conference season has not gone as the Baker University men's basketball team had planned it.

BU lost its first three games against conference opponents and has lost five games in a row.

The Wildcats kicked off HAAC play with a 63-52 loss to Benedictine College Dec. 3 in Atchison. Senior Jaris Wommack led the team with 14 points and senior Austin Bond was in double figures with 10 points. Senior Andre Strozier was saddled with foul trouble and only scored seven points.

The differences in the game was Benedictine's 3-point percentage and Baker's assist-to-turnover ratio. The Ravens hit seven of 14 from 3-point range and the Wildcats had 12 turnovers compared to just seven assists.

"With (sophomore) Sam Kenney being out, our starting point guard being out, it has put some other people in position to play more minutes," head coach Brett Ballard said. "We have really tried to emphasize, in practice, getting good possessions and taking care of the ball."

The Wildcats then played its conference home opener against No. 14 Lindenwood University and lost 72-53 Saturday in Collins Center. Strozier did not play in the game due to a coach's decision.

BU also found out it would be without Kenney for the majority of the season because of an injury to his right ankle.

"The prognosis is that I have damaged ligaments in my ankle and that I will be unable to play this season," Kenney said.

Wommack again led the team with 14 points, with junior Joe Wachter also scoring in double figures with 10 points. The Wildcats had problems again with turnovers, committing 13 turnovers and having only four assists.

BU improved its play against No. 22 Evangel University Tuesday in Springfield, Mo., but still lost 75-66.

"We played good for about 35 minutes," sophomore Corey Anderson said. "We outplayed them in every single way, but we just couldn't put a complete game together. They had a little run toward the end of the game and they just pulled away and took it away from us."

Wommack was a bright spot for the Wildcats against the Crusaders, recording a career-high 27 points on 11 of 18 shooting from the field.

Baker entered Thursday's game against Central Methodist University with an overall record of 3-7 and an 0-3 conference record.

The results of Thursday's game were not available at presstime.

The team will have 22 days before its next game. The Wildcats play in the Columbia College Classic on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 in Columbia, Mo., where they will play William Woods University at 4 p.m. on Dec. 31 and Columbia College at 8 a.m. on Jan. 1.

"Well, it is always interesting to come off a long break," Ballard said. "We'll have 10 days off without basketball … I'm sure our guys will be enthusiastic and ready to go."