No. 15 Baker Grinds Out Road Win at Central Methodist, 72-64

FAYETTE, Mo. - Despite being held under 80 points for just the second time this season, No. 15 Baker came out on top of a tough conference battle in Fayette, Mo. on Wednesday night, defeating Central Methodist, 72-64 to move to 10-1 overall on the season.

A low-scoring first half saw the Wildcats lead by three at the break before outlasting an Eagles side that kept hanging around in the second half as BU eventually escaped with its closest margin of victory against a Heart of America Conference team this season.

Noah Rigatuso paced the Wildcats in scoring with 21 points, while pulling down six rebounds. Ahmed Mahgoub and Quentin Harvey each reached double figures as well with Mahgoub going for 15 points and Harvey finishing with 13.

The Eagles opened the night by scoring the first seven points before Baker found its footing and reeled off a 16-3 run to jump in front midway through the first half.

After going nearly five minutes without a basket, Harvey snapped the cold stretch for BU with back-to-back buckets and Kaimen Lennox followed with a three to make it a five-point lead for the visitors.

Harvey and Ty Henry connected on a set of treys in the final two minutes of the half to send Baker into halftime with a 32-29 lead.

CMU cut it to a two-point game quickly into the second half after being fouled on a three-point shot, but Harvey, Mahgoub and Korey Jones each scored over the next few possessions to give BU some slight breathing room again.

Mahgoub buried a couple of clutch threes to keep Baker out in front and Rigatuso followed with an old-fashioned three-point play to make it a 52-44 lead with about 10 minutes left in the game.

A stick-back by Harvey and a jumper from Nick Whittick push the Wildcats' lead out to double digits and Rigatuso followed with a breakaway bucket a little bit later to give them their largest lead of the night at 66-52.

The Eagles got within single digits down the stretch, but Baker's lead was too much for the hosts to overcome as the Wildcats finished off the gritty road win, 72-64.

After winning all six of its conference games in November, the Wildcats open up December with their seventh win of Heart play and keep their undefeated conference record (7-0) intact.

With two games left before the end of the calendar year, Baker returns home to face Grand View on Dec. 14 with tipoff from the Collins Center set for 4 p.m.

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