Men’s Basketball Stopped by Baker

Baldwin City, Kan. - The Graceland University Men's Basketball team took on the Baker University Wildcats. The Yellowjackets were defeated by the Wildcats, 88-78. Graceland move to 16-6 and are 14-5 in the conference.

Graceland (17-6, 14-5) | Baker (18-6, 15-4)
Half 1: Graceland 35 | Baker 46
Graceland would pull the first lead (8-4), with baskets from Darrius Davis (six points) and Austin Braun (two points). The Wildcats would answer to put up seven and take the lead (11-8); Amitai Afenjar would break the run with made charity stripes, followed by back-to-back layups (18-14). Cater Brown would follow from beyond the arches to close the gap to one point (18-17). Akeen Woods would even the score at 20-20 from the line. Baker would retaliate for four points. Woods would drain seven points to take a one-point lead (27-26). The Wildcats would answer with their own seven-point jump (3:00 minute mark). Davis's layup would break the run (34-29). With less than ten seconds on the clock, Brown drained a three, and Graceland would trail 46-35 heading into halftime.

Half 2: Graceland 43 | Baker 42
Austin Braun would open the second half, draining a jumper and closing the gap to nine points (46-37). Baker would answer for a six-point jump (52-37). Aleksa Markovic would break the run from the deep (16-minute mark), and minutes later, Markovic would drain a second three (59-43). A jumper by Akeen Woods and a layup from Patrick Fisher would push a four-point increase (62-47). At the midway point, a three from Carter Brown would push a Graceland seven-point run, and Amitai Afenjar would put up back-to-back layups (64-54). Both teams would trade baskets. The Wildcats would hold their lead over the Yellowjackets to end the game 88-78.

By the numbers:
27-33– The Yellowjackets had 30 field goals and the Wildcats sank 26 field goals
8-7 – Graceland had eight three-pointer and Baker had seven
51-14 – The Yellowjackets 37 had more bench points than the Wildcats
27-47 – Graceland rebounds compared Baker
16-15 – The Yellowjacket had one more made charity stripe compared to the Wildcats

Graceland Leaders:
Scoring Leader: Amitai Afenjar – 19
Rebounding Leader: Amitai Afenjar – 9
Assist Leader: Austin Braun / Patrick Fisher / Akeen Woods – 3
Steal Leader: Patrick Fisher – 2

Baker Leaders:
Scoring Leader: Noah Rigatuso – 30
Rebounding Leader: Noah Rigatuso – 9
Assist Leader: Five Players – 2
Steal Leader: Dylan Smith – 2

Up Next:
The Yellowjackets will be back on Saturday, February 10 when they take on the Central Methodist University Eagles. Tip-off is set for 4 :00 pm.

-Yellowjackets-