Strong Second Half Helps Wildcats to Strong Road Win Over Grand View, 85-60

DES MOINES, Iowa – Shooting over 65% from the field in the second half, the Baker men's basketball team picked up another strong win on Saturday afternoon over Grand View, 85-60.

Quentin Harvey once again led the Wildcats in scoring with 21 points, while four other players reached double figures including Noah Rigatuso (18), Jalen Patterson (16), Joshua Kelly (12) and Braden Wiggs (10).

Korey Jones was able to lead Baker with eight rebounds in the game, but Kelly also filled up the stat sheet in multiple categories, pulling down six rebounds, while also dishing out five assists and collecting one steal.

In the game, Baker forced a total of 15 turnovers, scoring 21 points off those turnovers, while committing just eight turnovers for six points. Baker worked hard down low, scoring 40 points in the paint, while allowing just 20 points in the paint from Grand View.

Within the first five minutes of the game, the Wildcats had scored just two points, while the Vikings pulled out to a 9-2 lead. Baker then got things going over the next four minutes and a dunk from Rigatuso with 11:38 to play in the half tied the game at 13.

Just a few minutes later, Baker was able to take their first lead of the game on a layup from Braden Wiggs, 19-18 with 8:37 left until halftime. Late in the half, the Wildcats stretched their lead to as many as seven points, but a bucket by Grand View gave Baker a 34-29 lead at the break.

Grand View as able to get the first two baskets of the second half cutting the lead to just one, but five straight points from Harvey and another dunk from Rigatuso extended Baker's lead back to eight points with 15:55 to play, 41-33.

With Baker leading by 10 with just over 10 minutes left in the game, Patterson drilled a three, pushing the lead to 61-48. After baskets by both teams, Baker held the Vikings without a field goal for the next three minutes as they extended their lead to 73-55 with 6:16 left in the game.

Baker would give up just five points over the final six minutes, continuing to add to their lead and eventually winning the game, 85-60. With the win, the Wildcats are now 18-5 on the season and 13-4 in Heart of America play.

They will be back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 8, when they host MidAmerica Nazarene at 7:30 p.m., inside the Collins Center. The Wildcats fell to MNU on Jan. 16, in Olathe, 80-75.

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