First half troubles lead to Pride loss at Baker

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. - Looking to get back to some of their recent quality of play, the Clarke University men's basketball team was unable to maintain from a quality start in an 86-66 loss at Baker University on Saturday afternoon.

The Pride got off to a very strong 11-2 start over the first two minutes of the game behind a pair of three pointers from Chris Burnell, another from Anthony Eddy, and a pair of free throws from Eddy as he was fouled on another three-point attempt.

Clarke would continue to hold a lead for most of the first 10 minutes of the first half but a 23-2 run from Baker and a stretch without a make from the field over the final 6:10 of the first half would lead to the Wildcats leading 43-26 at the halftime break.

BU would build up to their largest lead of the game at a 22-point advantage with about 10 minutes to go in the game and never look back despite the Pride playing it closer in the second half and getting within 11 points with just under four minutes remaining.

Both Eddy and Burnell led the way on the scoring side for CU as both knocked down five three pointers apiece with Eddy finishing at a team-high 20 points and Burnell scoring 17 as Jake Layman was the only other member of the Pride in double figures with 12 on the day.

Baker's leading scorer came off the bench as Quentin Harvey scored 28 on 11-of-16 shooting from the field, adding eight rebounds to his performance as the only other double figures scorer also came off the bench in Noah Rigatuso's 19 points coming in 26 minutes.

Clarke men's basketball will be back in action next Wednesday evening when they travel to Cedar Rapids, Iowa for a 7:30 p.m. CT tip against Mount Mercy University.