Lynx, Spartans set to clash

It’s an American Midwest Conference (AMC) Game of the Week showdown on Saturday afternoon, as the Lindenwood University-Belleville men’s basketball team looks to keep rolling against Missouri Baptist University. Tipoff will start at 4 p.m.

Lynx Look For Redemption

Back in its first meeting on the year, it was a back-and-forth game throughout, but the Spartans (12-8; 7-5 AMC), were able to escape Lynx Arena with a 93-90 win.

LU-Belleville (10-11; 7-7 AMC), shot 42.9 percent from the floor and were led by Andrew Douby’s 19 points and seven rebounds. Collin Mingo had a strong game, posting 18 points and 12 rebounds, while ShunQuez Stephens (13) and Sean McGee (10), were the final players to average in double-figures.

The Lynx won the battle on the boards and in the turnover category, but shot just 58.3 percent (14-of-24) from the line.

Missouri Baptist was hot from the floor all afternoon, owning a field goal percentage of 54.9, while shooting 50.0 percent from downtown and 84.8 percent from the free throw line.

Chris Buzzell shot 8-of-10 from the floor for the Spartans and finished with a game-high 23 points. Stephen Bucker added 18 points and five assists, while John Caraballo totaled 12 points and seven rebounds. Will Harrington and Luke Call, meanwhile, contributed 11 points each.

Last Time Out

Against St. Louis College of Pharmacy, the Lynx eclipsed the 90-point mark for the second straight game, as they cruised to a 95-50 win over the Eutectics.

The team was dominant all night, as 11 players scored at least three points, while five others reached double-figures. Leading the charge was Douby, who netted a game-high 17 points on 70.0 percent (7-of-10 shooting.

Najee Bailey collected his first double-double on the year, having 16 points and 10 boards, while the reigning AMC and NAIA Player of the Week, ShunQuez Stephens, scored 15 points in 11:46 minutes of action. Christian Melendez added a season-high 12 points, while Curran Walsh concluded the night with a season-high 11 points of his won.

AMC Game Of The Week

With the Spartans sitting in fifth place, just five games out of first in the AMC and the Lynx right on their heels in seventh place, the AMC has awarded this outing as AMC Game of the Week.

Getting Over The .500 Mark

A win over the Spartans would give the Lynx its 11th win on the year, while pushing its AMC record to 8-7. It would be the first time this season the team has gotten over the .500 mark, while making them 5-5 on the road as well.

Players To Keep An Eye Out For:

Missouri Baptist

James White: In eight games, he’s averaging 14.1 points, while shooting 47.3 percent from the floor and totaled 14 steals.

Chris Buzzell: Averaging 12.0 points and leads the Spartans with an 84.1 free throw percentage.

Will Harrington: Owns a 9.2 point per game, but leads MBU from downtown (39.0 percent) and assists (113).

LU-Belleville

ShunQuez Stephens: Leads the team in points per game (16.2), field goal percentage (56.4), rebounds (241), rebounds per game (11.5) and tied for first in blocked shots (15).

Sean McGee: Scoring 13.0 points and has dished out a team-high 84 assists.

Andrew Douby: Has pushed his season average up to 11.3 points and leads the Lynx with his 84.0 free throw percentage.

This story was originally published January 29, 2016 at 5:19 PM with the headline "Lynx, Spartans set to clash."