MBB Game Preview: WBU at No. 18 Central Baptist (Feb. 13 | 7:30 PM)

WALNUT RIDGE,Ark. (2/12/25) – The Williams Baptist University men's basketball team looks ahead to take on No. 18 Central Baptist on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION

WILLIAMS BAPTIST EAGLES (4-17, 1-14 AMC) vs #18 CENTRAL BAPTIST MUSTANGS  (21-4, 14-1 AMC)
Game info: Thursday, Feb. 13 - 7:30 p.m. CST - A.R. Reddin Fieldhouse (Conway, Ark.)
Live stats: https://wbueagles.com/sports/mbkb/2024-25/boxscores/20250213_gi9y.xml
Live video: https://www.youtube.com/@CBCAthletics 

MATCHUP HISTORY

Last Meeting: Jan. 20, 2025 (CBC 98-75)
Current Streak: CBC W6

WBU QUICK FACTS

2024-25 Record: 4-17 (1-14 AMC)
Current Streak: L11
2023-24 Record: 13-13 (5-9 AMC)
2023-24 Postseason: None
Head Coach: Josh Austin (14th season)
HC Record: 263-260
HC Record at WBU: 183-189 (116-137 AMC)
Assistant Coach: Noah Ellis (1st season)

ABOUT CENTRAL BAPTIST

2024-25 Record: 21-4 (14-1 AMC)
Current Streak: W6
2023-24 Record: 28-7 (12-2 AMC)
2023-24 Postseason: The Mustangs won the 2024 American Midwest Conference Tournament over Missouri Baptist 105-72.  CBC entered the NAIA National Tournament as a 14 seed, and upset MidAmerica Nazarene 100-90 in 2OT to advance to the second round.  After taking down Bethel 79-76 in the second round, the Mustangs defeated No.2 Oklahoma Wesleyan 84-79 to advance to the quarterfinals.  CBC's run came to an end against eventual National Champion Freed-Hardeman by the final score of 85-74.
Head Coach: Sam Kohnke (4th season)
Assistant Coaches: Ryan McLaurin, Dawson Jones, Rashad Allen

CBC NOTABLES

• The Mustangs are coming off an 80-68 win over Crowley's Ridge on Tuesday, Feb. 11 in Paragould

• Sage Borbon led the way with 23 points on 11-for-18 shooting from the field

• Gabe Johnson led on the glass with eight rebounds

• The Mustangs went 32-for-65 (49.2 percent) from the field while holding the Pioneers to 38.0 percent shooting and 20 percent from three-point range

• CBC averages 86.2 points per game (2nd AMC), while allowing an average of 74.8 PPG (5th AMC)

• Sage Borbon leads the Mustang offense with an average of 18.0 points per game (2nd AMC)

• Jonah Carlisle leads on the glass with an average of 7.1 rebounds per game (5th AMC)

• Carlisle also ranks fifth in the AMC in FG% on a 54.2 percent clip this season

• Sage Borbon is 56 points shy of becoming the seventh player in CBC history to reach 1,000 career points

• The Mustangs are 19-2 when leading at the half

• The Mustangs were picked to finish second in the AMC Preseason Coaches Poll

• CBC was ranked 18th in the NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches Poll No. 6 released on Feb. 12.

LAST TIME OUT

• Williams fell to Mission 79-76 in its last matchup on Tuesday, Feb. 11 inside the Southerland-Mabee Center

• Elisha Cofield led the way for WBU with 20 points on 8-for-15 shooting on the night

• Cofield also took the team-lead in rebounds with eight

• The Eagles went 29-for-62 (46.8 percent) from the field

• WBU won the rebound battle 38-31

• The game featured five ties and 11 lead changes

• The Eagles led 34-32 at the end of the first half 

• Mission came back from down 10 with eight minutes left to tie the game at 73 with two minutes to play

• The Eagles last second three-point attempt to tie the game missed the mark as Williams fell 79-76

WBU NOTABLES

• Amarion Wilson leads the team in scoring average with 13.9 points per game (10th AMC).  His season is highlighted by a 34-point performance against William Woods (Nov. 23)

• Elisha Cofield leads the team on the glass, averaging 8.2 rebounds per game (2nd AMC) with a season-high of 14 against Harris-Stowe (Jan. 23)

• The Eagles average 71.9 points per game (8th AMC), while opponents average 80.9 points against them (7th AMC).

• WBU is in the midst of a eleven-game losing streak

• Williams was picked to finish sixth in the AMC Preseason Coaches Poll

AMC PRESEASON COACHES POLL

1 Columbia (78)
2 Central Baptist (71)
3 William Woods (65)
4 Missouri Baptist (62)
5 Mission (47)
6 Williams Baptist (42)
7 Harris-Stowe (27)
8 Crowley's Ridge (24)
9 Hannibal-LaGrange (23)
10 UHSP (11)

SCHEDULE NOTES

• Next, the Eagles will travel to St. Louis, Mo. to take on Missouri Baptist on Saturday, Feb. 15.  Tip-off against the Spartans is set for 4 p.m.

• Williams' 2024-25 schedule features 14 home games inside the Southerland-Mabee Center