Baker pulls away late to top Pride 82-75

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. - In their final game of the 2021-22 season, the Clarke University men's basketball team fell by a final of 82-75 to Baker University on Saturday afternoon.

The Wildcats were able to overcome a halftime deficit and outscore CU 50-36 in the second half to earn the victory on their senior day.

The final numbers ended up pretty even with Baker holding the edge in shooting percentage at 44.8 percent to CU's 41.4 percent, the Wildcats hit 10 three pointers compared to nine for Clarke and the free throws finished 20-18 in favor of BU with rebounding being an even 32-32 and assists finishing at 13-13.

Baker's Jalen Patterson led all players with a game-high 35 points in the game as he went just 9-of-20 from the field but a perfect 12-for-12 from the free throw line and hit five three pointers as no other player for the Wildcats scored more than nine points.

CU had three players in double figures led by the 25-point performance from junior Jacob Fierst as seniors Keith Johnson and Jordan Lake added 16 and 15 points repsectively in their finals game for the Pride.

Anthony Eddy added nine points, Biggie Luster scored six, Xavier Johnson added two points, and Daquon Lewis also scored two points.

Clarke men's basketball will end their season with a 13-16 record overall and 7-12 in the Heart of America to come up short of a Heart Tournament berth.