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Health & Fitness

Spartans, Plummer Pull Out Victory at Park

Missouri Baptist men's basketball center, Garrison Plummer, hit the tying and game winning free throws with four seconds left against Park University on Thursday to beat the Pirates, 66-65.

PARK, Mo. – Missouri Baptist men’s basketball center, Garrison Plummer, hit the tying and game winning free throws with four seconds left against Park University on Thursday to beat the Pirates, 66-65.

Missouri Baptist went into Thursday’s game looking to stay in second place in the American Midwest Conference (AMC). The Pirates beat the Spartans at home just weeks ago and made every attempt to repeat that feat.

Park’s Melvin Gatson and Reco Anderson were clutch all night. The duo combined for 35 of the team’s 65 points. Though the two Pirates had a great game, the Spartans focused-in on a strong defensive effort. Missouri Baptist shot 37% from the floor in the game, allowing the Pirates several opportunities to take the lead.

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Missouri Baptist was up by as much as nine in the first half, but Park was able to close the gap to five by the end of the period. After halftime, the Pirates capitalized on a slow start by the Spartans. With just over 17 minutes to play, Gatson stole the ball and went down-court to drop the tying bucket in the hoop.

After a Missouri Baptist timeout, the Spartans cooled and the Pirates gained momentum. Park used this emotion to build a seven-point lead with over six minutes to play. The lead, however, did not last.

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Missouri Baptist, staring down the barrel of another road loss after giving up a lead, took over. The team went on an 11-0 run in a three-minute span to take a three-point lead.

Park rallied and crept back in to take a one-point advantage with 29 seconds on the clock, but Missouri Baptist kept its composure and remained on an even keel in the face of adversity after a Pirate timeout.

The Spartans took possession for the final 29 seconds and made it count. With only four second left in the game, the Pirates’ Michael Anorue made the game’s most costly error, fouling Garrison Plummer. Plummer went to the foul stripe with the game on the line and earned his nickname as “The Beast” by draining both shots to give his team a big road victory.

The win was the first of Missouri Baptist head coach Ray Farrell over Park in his tenure. MBU will play its final regular-season game of the season on the road Saturday, as the team will head to William Woods to face the Owls. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m.

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