No. 4 Wildcats Advance to Heart Semifinals With Double Overtime Win Over No. 5 MidAmerica Nazarene, 94-88

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – Despite a very slow start for the Wildcats, the No. 4 Baker men's basketball team was able to fight their way back and defeat No. 5 MidAmerica Nazarene in double overtime, 94-88 in the Heart of America Conference Tournament Quarterfinals.

Jalen Patterson had a huge night offensively, knocking down five three-pointers on his way to scoring a game-high, 32 points to tie his season-high. Patterson's 32 points moved his career total to 1,756 points and moved him into sixth all-time in scoring at Baker University, passing Carl Danzig who had 1,732 points.

Baker was also able to get double doubles from both Quentin Harvey and Braden Wiggs. Harvey had 11 points on the night with 13 rebounds, while Wiggs had 10 points and 12 rebounds to help Baker to a big win. Noah Rigatuso was the only other Wildcat in double figures with 14 points.

Four minutes into the game, Baker trailed 6-4, but MNU caught fire and went on a 16-0 run over the next five minutes as the Pioneers held a commanding 22-4 lead with just over 11 minutes to play in the first half.

MNU stretched their lead to 27-8 with 9:33 left in the half and Baker took a timeout to gather themselves. The Baker defense stepped up to the challenge for the rest of the first half, giving up just two points over the next 5:30 to cut into the lead, 29-19.

Baker didn't stop there and with just under a minute to play until halftime, a layup from Rigatuso had cut what was once a 19-point lead down to just three points, 31-28. Neither team then scored in the final minute as the teams went to the locker room with Baker trailing by just three.

Early in the second half, Baker had tied the game multiple times, but it wasn't until the 10:05 mark in the second half that two free throws from Braden Wiggs gave Baker their first lead of the game, 53-51.

After a few possessions, MNU held a 55-54 lead, but Patterson drilled a three on an assist from Rigatuso to give Baker the lead once again, 57-55. With 4:51 to play in regulation, Ty Henry hit a three of his own and gave Baker a six-point lead, 68-62.

Baker was able to tie the game at 76 with just 50 seconds to play and after a stop on the other end, Baker had the ball with the shot clock turned off. After calling a timeout, Harvey got a step on his defender, but the shot was blocked and after a desperation three for MNU was missed, the game went into overtime tied at 76.

Baker was able to jump out to a slim four-point lead in the first overtime period, but with just 22 seconds left in the period, a jumper by MNU tied the game at 83 and gave Baker another chance to win it.

Baker was able to draw up a play for Patterson who took a fadeaway jumper along the baseline that came up just short. Braden Wiggs was able to grab the offensive rebound, but his putback just missed and the game went into the second overtime period tied at 83.

MNU was able to get a one-point lead on a free throw to start the second overtime, but there was Patterson once again to hit a huge three and give the Wildcats an 86-84 lead. A basket from Rigatuso with 1:53 to play extended Baker's lead to six points, but the Pioneers would not go away.

After a basket from MNU cut the lead down to four, Baker did not give up another point and a dunk from Rigatuso put the game away, giving the Wildcats a thrilling 94-88 win in double overtime over MidAmerica Nazarene to advance in the Heart of America Conference Tournament.

The No. 4 seeded Baker Wildcats now have an overall record of 22-7 on the season and will now take on No. 1 William Penn on Saturday at 7 p.m., in the Heart of America Conference Tournament Semifinals in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Baker just took down the Statesmen last Wednesday in overtime, 96-93.

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