Raven Men's Basketball pushed its winning streak to 20 games with a tightly-contested, 86-82 win against the Baker Wildcats Thursday in the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium.
The No. 3 Ravens turned things around in the second half after trailing by 5 points at halftime.
The halftime deficit didn't last long as the Ravens (21-2, 17-0 Heart of America) opened the second half with a bucket by Adam Kutney and a 3-pointer by Colby Nickels to tie the game. Five minutes into the second half, a 3 by Jaiden Bristol put the Ravens up by 8 points.
The Wildcats (10-13, 7-11) hung around, though, evening the score at 58-58 with 10:39 to play and took a brief 1-point lead with 8 minutes to play. Bristol answered with a pair of free throws to give the lead back to the Ravens, then made back-to-back runners in the lane to help the Ravens build a 10-point lead with under three minutes to play.
Again, the Wildcats hung around. Baker's Vandy Hopson made two free throws to pull within 84-82 with 6 seconds to play. Kutney was fouled on the ensuing possession and made two from the charity stripe to ice the game.
The Wildcats shot well in the first half, particularly from deep, converting 8-of-16 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes. Baker led 30-18 with 7 minutes left in the first half, but the Ravens chipped away at the lead and closed to within 5 points at the break.
Early in the second half, Thomas O'Connor hit a 3-pointer to pass 1,000 points in his Ravens career. He finished with 13 points in the game. Bristol led the Ravens with 23 points, six assists and five rebounds, while Kutney scored 14 points and Nickels added 13.
Both teams shot well in the game. The Ravens were a scorching 62.2 percent from the field and 65 percent from behind the 3-point line; they were 72.7 percent from the field in the second half. The Wildcats shot 48.4 percent from the field in the first half, but the Ravens held Baker to 34.6 percent shooting in the second half.
The Ravens continue Heart of America action at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 at home against Graceland University. Senior Day will be held between the two games.
