Graceland Hands Missouri Baptist First Loss, Stays Perfect in Heart Play

LAMONI, Iowa – The Graceland University Yellowjackets continued their dominant stretch with a 79–66 home victory over Missouri Baptist University Saturday afternoon at the Morden Center, extending their winning streak to eight games and remaining undefeated in Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) play at 5–0.

With the win, Graceland improves to 10–2 overall, while previously unbeaten Missouri Baptist drops to 9–1 overall and 4–1 in the Heart, suffering their first loss of the season.

Balanced Attack Lifts Jackets in Top-Of-The-Table Showdown

Graceland entered Saturday's matchup facing the only other undefeated team in conference play and delivered a measured, efficient performance on both ends of the floor. The Yellowjackets shot 42.6 percent from the field and knocked down 10 of 19 three-point attempts (52.6%), while limiting Missouri Baptist to just 2 of 22 (9.1%) from behind the arc.

"Today was a really good win for our guys," said Head Coach Todd Lorensen. "I thought defensively we executed the game plan pretty well. They are an extremely physical team, and we had to match that physicality on the defensive glass—which we did a much better job of in the second half."

The second-half rebounding edge (19–12) proved critical as Graceland pulled away late. Graceland also recorded 15 assists on 23 made field goals while only allowing two assists by Missouri Baptist on the day, highlighting a superior defensive scheme and on-ball containment.

Bowen Dominates Inside, Busch Ignites from Deep

Cole Bowen led all scorers with 26 points and added a game-high 12 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. Bowen was a consistent presence at the line, going 15 of 21 from the stripe, including key makes late as Missouri Baptist tried to claw back into the game.

Bowen also came up with three steals, an assist, and a block while anchoring the frontcourt for the Jackets. Coach Lorensen praised the leadership and poise of his forward, particularly his impact late in tight moments:
"There were a few games last year that that same feeling came to me—when the shot went up, I had no doubt number 22 is going to be grabbing it. He showed in the second half why he is such a dynamic player on both ends of the court."

Carson Busch added 16 points, going 4-for-8 from three-point range, and played 35 minutes with only one turnover. He added a steal and assist, while spacing the floor and delivering timely buckets during the second-half surge.

"He is invaluable for us," Lorensen continued about Busch. "He can play multiple positions, so we have great flexibility in our lineups. When his feet are set, we feel like that's going in every time."

Turnovers and Free Throws Remain Areas for Growth

Despite the convincing win, Graceland committed 16 turnovers, leading to 15 Missouri Baptist points, something Coach Lorensen noted as an ongoing emphasis:
"That many turnovers is a lot of character for us, and unfortunately, it led to a lot of easy baskets for them on the other end. It's definitely something we will need to clean up when we go to their place later this year, as well as against other opponents."

Additionally, Graceland left points on the line, finishing 23 of 37 (62.2%) from the free-throw line.
"At the end of the day, we will need to shoot free throws better," Lorensen added. "We're going to be in a lot of one- to two-possession games as the season marches on."

Key Contributions Across the Board

• Deundra Roberson scored 15 points and knocked down three of five three-point attempts. He added five rebounds and a steal in 28 minutes.

• Runey Hernandez added 11 points, six rebounds, and four assists, including a critical second-half three and a key blocked shot.

• Micah Lamberth collected seven rebounds, scored five points, and helped Graceland maintain a defensive presence in the post.

• Graceland's bench combined for six points but played vital rotation minutes, with Kaamil Domingo grabbing five boards and Josh Sanderson knocking down a first-half triple.

Game Trends and Numbers

• The Yellowjackets held Missouri Baptist to 37.1 percent shooting overall and just 9.1 percent from deep.

• Graceland's largest lead was 15 points, maintained in the closing moments.

• The Jackets limited Missouri Baptist to just two assists all game—a credit to defensive discipline.

Next Up

Graceland looks to extend its unbeaten conference record on the road as the Jackets prepare for a conference matchup at Park University on Thursday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. CST at the Breckon Sports Center in Parkville, Missouri.

For full box scores, upcoming schedule, and updates on Yellowjackets men's basketball, visit GUjackets.com

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