Men’s basketball wins home opener

Story by Chad Mullens

Stepping onto its home court for the first time this season, the Baker University men’s basketball team took down Kansas Wesleyan University, 83-63.

The Wildcats improved to 2-2 on the season after outscoring KWU 53-31 in the second half of the game.

Junior E.J. Carter recorded his third double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Four other Wildcats scored in the double digits, including freshman Javeion Grey with a team high of 16 points. Senior Todd Johnston and juniors Jared Fulks and Eric Watson each sunk 10 points of their own.

The home-court win came just days after Baker lost a double-overtime thriller to the University of Saint Mary and claimed its first win of the season over Ottawa University.

The 97-91 loss to the Spires on Friday came despite a 31-point, 11-rebound effort by Carter.

The Spires were led by a 48-point effort by guard Grant Greenberg, who went 29 for 32 from the free-throw line. As a team, Saint Mary was 45-51 from the line, shooting over 88 percent.

The Wildcats fell behind 34-30 at halftime, but bounced back with a 43-point second half to tie the game at 73 at the end of regulation.

Baker took 27 more field goal attempts than the Spires due to the Wildcats’ edge in offensive rebounding and turnovers. But BU only shot 38.8 percent and missed 12 free throws.

The ‘Cats forced 20 turnovers against both Saint Mary and Ottawa, and junior Jauan Wilson led the Wildcats with eight steals over both games.

On Saturday against Ottawa, the team shot a season best 46.6 percent from the field in its 73-68 victory. The Wildcats had their most efficient game so far, also setting season highs in 3-point and free throw percentages.

Carter led the team in scoring again, this time with 17, and was supported by double-digit efforts from Wilson and Johnston. Wilson shot 7-9 from the field, and Johnston went 4-5 on 3-pointers.

The Wildcats will play in an exhibition game against the University of Central Missouri at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Warrensburg, Mo.