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Maranatha Baptist University

Maranatha Baptist University Sabercats
MBB vs Emmaus 11.16.23
Hope Ostrander
Brayden Cox now leads the NCAA DIII in free-throw percentage.
80
Moody Bible MBI 2-13, 1-4
91
Winner Maranatha Baptist MBU 4-14, 2-2
Moody Bible MBI
2-13, 1-4
80
Final
91
Maranatha Baptist MBU
4-14, 2-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Moody Bible MBI 39 41 80
Maranatha Baptist MBU 38 53 91

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Taylor Pill

Cox's Big Night Fuels Win over Moody

Sabercats top Archers 91-80 thanks to Cox's free throws.

LEAD

WATERTOWN, Wis. -- After a slow start on their own court, the Sabercats fought back with a big second half to take a 91-80 win over NCCAA Midwest Region rivals Moody tonight.

Brayden Cox rose to the top of the NCAA DIII charts tonight, shooting 14-14 from the line to go lead the Sabercats with 24 points. Noah Jensen put up 15 and had 17 boards.

OVERVIEW

  • Result: Maranatha 91-80 Moody
  • Venue: MBU Gymnasium - Maranatha Baptist University
  • Location: Watertown, Wis.
  • Event: NCCAA Midwest Region - Regular Season
  • Attendance: 91
  • Records: MBU (4-13), MBI (2-14)

STORY
The start wasn't the prettiest for the Sabercats, and Moody sensed the lull in Sabercats' rhythm. By the 6:26 mark, Moody had compiled a 26-16 lead and were looking comfortable. 
Someone needed to step up and make a difference, and Caleb Moultrie and Brayden Cox stepped up at key times, making some big plays to pull the Sabercats back to striking distance.

 


The Sabercats' persistence was paying off, and the Archers were thrown off their game. Maranatha cleaned up their early turnovers and started to choose higher-percentage shots. An easy layup from Tony Garcia made it a one-point game, and going into the locker room, the Sabercats were as close as they'd been since the very start of the game.

  Going into the break, Cox led Maranatha with seven points while three other Sabercats had six apiece.

The Sabercats quickly regained the lead in the second half through a Brandt Cashner layup, but the game stayed close after some tight opening possessions.
Cox and company kept on shooting, and when the Texan hit a three-pointer with 10:21 on the clock, Maranatha had a five-point lead - their second of the game.
  Once they finally had momentum on their side, there was no stopping the Sabercats. Mike Mertes pulled up for a three to give the Sabercats their first double-digit lead of the night, and it was a harbinger of defeat for the Archers.
  Cox sealed his free-throw place on top of the NCAA Division III free-throw percentage charts in the second half, finishing off his 14-14 performance with his parents in the crowd to cheer him on.
 
After 40 competitive minutes, the Sabercats had broken their losing streak, sealed the first win of 2024, and marked a memorable night for Cox and the team.
--

Maranatha Starters: 2-Cox, 12-Jensen, 21-Moultrie, 33-Mertes, 44- Cashner

STATS

  • MBU: shot 46.7 percent from the field
  • MBI: shot 44.4 percent from the field
  • Cox: went 14-14 from the line
  • Cox: first time since 1991 that a Maranatha player has gone 14-14 from the line
  • Cox: now leads the NCAA DIII in free-throw percentage
  • Last time: Maranatha defeated Moody 69-67 in Chicago on Feb. 4, 2023
  • Series: Maranatha leads the all-time series aginst Moody 55-15

OPPONENTS

  • Moody competes alongside Maranatha in the NCCAA Midwest Region
  • Moody finished the '22-'23 season with a 0-20 overall record

NEXT

The Sabercats stay in Watertown to take on Great Lakes Christian College in another NCCAA Midwest region match-up on Saturday at 7 p.m. Follow at mbusabercats.com/schedule.

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