With one week of games left in the Fall semester and an 0-1 mark in Midwest Christian College Conference play, the Bears faced perennial power Manhattan Christian College (Manhattan, KS) on Tuesday night at Hockett Auditorium. The game proved pivotal in the MCCC standings following #9 Faith Baptist Bible College’s sweep of both the Bears and Manhattan in Ankeny, IA earlier in the season.

The Bears seemed poised for their first home victory of the year after dropping their previous two closely contested home games to #10 Dallas Christian College (Dallas, TX) and #7 Hillsdale Free Will Baptist (Moore, OK). Early in the game the Thunder and the Bears were neck and neck until the Bears second rotation entered the game around the 16 minute mark. They ratcheted up the pressure and helped build a double digit lead. That lead would spread to as many as 17 points before the Thunder used a 10-0 run to finish out the half to only trail the Bears 33-40 at intermission.

Manhattan Christian would close the gap to three midway through the second half before the Bears pushed the lead back up to double digits following a pair of three pointers by Sophomore Cole Hibler (Ponca City, OK) and a diving defensive play from Junior Charles Brodhead (Lompoc, CA), who then trailed the play and rimmed in a three pointer from the top of the key. In the closing minutes the Bears were able to control possession and run out the clock for a crucial 82-72 victory.

The Bears were led by Brodhead’s 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. Senior Tony Graham (Baltimore, MD) chipped in 19 points in another solid performance. Both Hibler and Freshman David Greer (Greenwood, IN) had four assists apiece, and big man Andre Barnes pulled down 6 boards to go with his 9 points.

This weekend the Bears (3-5, 1-1) will head south to take on #4 Arlington Baptist College (Arlington, TX) and #9 Dallas Christian College in two Southwest Region games. Friday the Bears will play at 7:30 PM CST and at 12:00 PM on Saturday.