The Barclay College Men’s Basketball team took their NCCAA Division II #9 ranking on the road over the weekend and came up empty. On Friday, Dec. 7th they were in Springfield, MO to play perennial powerhouse Central Bible College and on Saturday they went head to head with NAIA DII Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Bartlesville, OK.

On Friday, the Spartans of Central built a double digit lead only to see the Bears whittle the lead down to nothing in the closing minutes of the first half, 44-44. In the second half, action was back and forth with 17 lead changes and 12 ties. The Bears had opportunities to pull away but could not amass more than a five point lead. With the Bears up 3 with just over three minutes left in the game, they were held to six points down the stretch and lost 87-91 for their first loss of the year.

Five minutes into the Bears contest with Oklahoma Wesleyan University (8-2), they found themselves up eight before a furious rally by the Eagles gave them a 13 point lead at the half. In the second half, the Bears chopped the lead down to single digits several times and with under four minutes of action left, had a three point attempt cut the lead to five, but it rimmed out. The Eagles went on to win 96-83.

Barclay College (7-2, 3-0) is not back in action until January 11^th when they travel to Dubuque, IA for a pair of games against Emmaus Bible College and Dayspring Bible College.