CARLINVILLE, IL – The Blackburn College Men's Basketball team hosted Missisippi University of Women's Men's Basketball team in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action and came back from a 20 point deficit to capture a 77-73 victory. 

Leading Blackburn was senior Izayah Talmadge with 28 points and 12 points for his third double-double of the year. Sophomore Cayden Paquette added 19 points, making five threes to tie Talmadge for the team's lead. Sophomore Darius Duff chipped in with 11 points. As a team, the Beavers made 15 threes on the night for the most threes in a game this season. 

Senior Zach Kelsey hit a three to open the game followed by a Talmadge three to go up 6-0 early, and a Duff layup answered a three from the Owls to put BC up 8-3 three minutes into the game. However, the guests answered with a 15-0 run to move ahead 18-8. Paquette stopped the run with a three, but MUW responded with a 14-3 run which pushed them ahead 32-14. The Beavers slightly chipped into the lead but faced a 41-24 lead heading into halftime. 

The second half saw MUW push out to a 58-38 lead. Paquette then hit back to back threes to sandwich an Owl score, then sank a free throw which made it 61-49 with 11 minutes left. Freshman Ayden Kanallakan followed with a three to move the deficit to single digits, 61-52. After a free throw by Kameron Harvey, MUW answered to go ahead by double digits, but Talmadge quickly answered with a three. Sophomore Tyson Johnson followed an Owl free throw with another three and Duff made a layup to put BC down just 65-62 with eight minutes left in the game. 

The teams stayed scoreless for the next two minutes until MUW sank a free throw but Talmadge answered with a three before Duff made two free throws to tie the game at 66-66 with 5:25 left. A minute later, Johnson gave Blackburn a lead with another BC three then Talmadge answered an Owl basket with a layup and a three which moved BC ahead 74-68 with 1:55 to go. 

MUW narrowed it with a layup, but Talmadge made another free throw. With 39 seconds remaining, the Owls sank two free throws. The guests then fouled Talmadge to send him to the line for an opportunity for two free throw. The senior missed his first attempt but got his own rebound and gave the ball to Duff who was fouled and made his first free throw. 

After a made free throw from the Owls closed the gap to 76-73, Talmadge sealed the game with a free throw with 16 seconds to go. MUW was unable to make their last shot and Blackburn moved to a 77-73 win. 

With the win, Blackburn improves to 7-13 on the season and 6-6 in the SLIAC. The Beavers return to action to take on Lyon College in another SLIAC tilt Saturday afternoon.