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GRACELAND UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Graceland Men’s Basketball Falls in Nail-Biter Against Baker University
Graceland Men’s Basketball Falls in Nail-Biter Against Baker University

Graceland Men’s Basketball Falls in Nail-Biter Against Baker University

Box Score
Game Leaders
Graceland
Pts: Cole Bowen - 21
Reb: Team - 7
Ast: Carter Brown - 3
Baker (KS)
Pts: Ahmed Mahgoub - 15
Reb: Team - 11
Ast: Nick Whittick - 6
Team Stats
Full stats

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. — The Graceland men's basketball team (12-2, 8-2) saw a commanding double-digit second-half lead slip away in a heartbreaking 65-64 loss to the Baker University Wildcats (13-1, 10-0) on Thursday evening. This marks the second time this season that Graceland has lost by a single point on a buzzer-beater during a road game, underscoring its razor-thin margins of defeat and its potential as a top contender in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC).

Graceland controlled much of the game, building its largest lead of 13 points midway through the second half. However, missed opportunities at the free-throw line and costly mistakes down the stretch allowed Baker to mount a comeback and secure the victory. Graceland shot 65.5% (19-of-29) from the charity stripe, leaving critical points on the floor.

"We did a lot of things that are necessary to win road games against a top-tier opponent," head coach Todd Lorenson said after the game. "Unfortunately, we didn't finish the job and had some costly miscues late in the game to allow Baker back into it. There's no doubt this one stings, but we have to learn from it quickly and be ready for another key Heart matchup this weekend."

Lorenson also noted the challenges presented by Baker's defensive intensity. "They are very aggressive on the defensive end and make it tough on opposing teams' offenses, but we still had 4-5 careless turnovers that you can't have in this type of a game," Lorenson said.

Thursday's game underscored the strength of the HAAC's top two teams at the midway point of the conference season. Baker remains undefeated in conference play after narrowly avoiding its first loss, while Graceland sits solidly in second place in the standings. The Yellowjackets were led by Cole Bowen, who scored a game-high 21 points on 5-of-11 shooting and a 10-of-13 performance at the line. Carter Brown added 14 points, hitting 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, while Maijhe Wiley provided a spark off the bench with 11 points, including two three-pointers.

Game Highlights

  • First Half: The Yellowjackets found themselves trailing by one point at halftime (28-27), struggling with shooting consistency early. Graceland shot 36% from the field in the opening period, compared to Baker's 36.7%.

  • Second Half: Graceland opened the half with a 16-4 run, fueled by three-pointers from Bowen and Wiley. However, Baker chipped away at the lead over the final six minutes. Key three-pointers by Baker's Ahmed Mahgoub and Ty Henry, combined with Graceland's struggles at the line, turned the tide in favor of the Wildcats.

  • Final Moments: Leading 64-63 with under 30 seconds remaining, Graceland missed back-to-back free throws that could have sealed the game. Baker's Keynan Russell then sank a contested layup with three seconds left, securing the Wildcats' victory.

Team Statistics

  • Graceland shot 41.3% (19-of-46) from the field and 36.8% (7-of-19) from three-point range.
  • Baker shot 40.0% (24-of-60) overall, excelling in the paint with a 30-22 scoring advantage.
  • Free throws were a critical factor, with Baker converting 61.1% (11-of-18) compared to Graceland's 65.5% (19-of-29).
  • Baker held a slight rebounding edge at 37-33, including 10 offensive boards that led to eight second-chance points.

Key Players

  • Cole Bowen (Graceland): 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 10-of-13 from the free-throw line.
  • Carter Brown (Graceland): 14 points, including three three-pointers.
  • Maijhe Wiley (Graceland): 11 points, including two three-pointers, off the bench.
  • Ahmed Mahgoub (Baker): 15 points, including a pivotal three-pointer late in the game.
  • Keynan Russell (Baker): 6 points, including the game-winning layup in the final seconds.

While the result did not fall in Graceland's favor, the Yellowjackets remain one of the top teams in the HAAC standings, with their only two losses this season coming by a combined two points on buzzer-beaters. The team's ability to dominate large portions of games reflects its potential as the season progresses.

Up Next

Graceland will aim to regroup at home on Saturday, January 4, at 4:00 p.m. when they host MidAmerica Nazarene University in the Morden Center in Lamoni, Iowa.

For more information on Graceland University men's basketball and all Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.