Southwest Baptist boxscore in PDF

After rallying to overcome a big deficit, the Maryville men's basketball team saw the script get flipped as host Southwest Baptist mounted its own comeback to down the Saints 68-63 in Bolivar, Mo., Saturday evening.
 
The Saints were down by as many as eight points, and were still trailing 24-17 with 7:28 left in the first half, before storming back to take the lead. Trae Pemberton sank a 3-pointer, and after two SBU free throws, Damyan Stoyanov connected from deep to bring the Saints to 26-23. Evan Booker powered up for a lay in, and two free throws by Max Mischkulnig put the Saints on top 27-26 4:10 before halftime. A Derek Deters trey gave Maryville a 35-32 lead until the Bearcats scored just before the end of the half to cut the Saints lead to one.
 
Southwest Baptist inched ahead 38-37 two minutes into the second half before the Saints responded with an 11-0 run. Pemberton hit sank two free throws to give Maryville a one-point lead, and Mischkulnig followed with a dunk. Deters converted both attempts at the free-throw line, and Booker followed with another layup. Armon Provo hit a 3-pointer to give the Saints a 48-38 advantage with 13:30 to play and forced SBU to call a timeout.
 
Provo scored inside to give the Saints a 50-41 lead with 11:30 remaining before the Bearcats slowly started their comeback. Maryville was still up 54-49 after Provo converted a layup at the 7:19 mark but SBU scored 13 of the next 14 points to go back ahead 62-55.  Pemberton tried to aid the comeback with a three-point play in the final minute to trim the gap to 65-61. However, the Bearcats made three of their last four free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win.
 
Pemberton led Maryville with 18 points as four of the five starters reached double figures. Provo scored 14 points, while Deters and Mischkulnig both finished with 11 points. Daymond Cowlah led SBU (1-3) with 16 points, while Menas Stephens finished with a game-high 15 rebounds. The Bearcats took advantage of their strong free throw shooting and hit 18-of-20 at the stripe.
 
The Saints even their record at 2-2. Maryville is back in action Tuesday as it hosts Arkansas-Monticello in a 6 p.m. game.