By MATT KING\Daily Journal Sports Writer

Published: Saturday, November 20, 2004
Updated: Friday, November 19, 2004 11:21 PM CST

PARK HILLS - The Mineral Area College Cardinals not only battled the Missouri Baptist J.V. squad at home on Friday, but also seemed to be in an equally tough struggle against their own inconsistency.

Rough shooting and moments of miscommunication hampered MAC early on, but the Cardinals used strong defensive pressure in the second half to pull away with a 76-51 triumph over the Spartans.

Missouri Baptist led through the majority of the first half, and kept the margin in the single digits until the final moments before the intermission, but eventually fell victim to 30 total turn-overs.

Mineral Area (3-2) connected on just four of its first 18 shot attempts, and did not score a non-transition field goal during the first 10:35 of action. The Cardinals played without the services of injured starters T.J. Britton and Matt Foster.

Dantwan Chillers created the early points for MAC with a couple of nifty steals which he converted into lay-ups. The MO Baptist offense was delivered mostly by sophomore Dustin Robinson, who scored 10 first-half points. His second three-pointer of the game gave the Spartans an early 12-7 advantage.

A decisive edge in height allowed the Cardinals many second and third chances at the offensive end, which led to their eventual comeback. Mineral Area broke in front 17-15 on a follow-up slam dunk by Aaron Jackson with 6:20 to play before halftime.

Tim Perry scored on a putback after pulling down a weak-side rebound to cap a 7-0 MAC run, extending the difference to 24-16. The Cardinals missed their first seven three-point attempts, but Kenny Burke and Ryan Byrne each connected from behind the arc to extend the halftime lead to 35-21.

MAC turned up the intensity from the opening whistle of the second half, and cashed in with several transition baskets as a result. DeAlan Hicks pulled up on the fast break and knocked down a mid-range jumper to stretch the margin to 45-25.

Robinson tried to keep the Spartans within striking distance a long three-pointer from 25 feet, but Byrne responded with a triple from the corner for the Cardinals.

After Jackson scored on another putback, Burke drilled his second three-pointer of the night to give MAC a 65-40 lead with 7:00 to play. Jackson also gave the home crowd a late thrill with a hard, one-hand slam following a steal to punctuate the victory.

Mineral Area was led in scoring by Jackson with 16 points while Byrne dropped in 15 and Burke added 12. Hicks finished with nine points and Chillers had seven. Curtis Muse grabbed nine rebounds.

Robinson led all players with 20 points, while Erodney Lang chipped in 13 for the Spartans.

The Cardinals will continue their five-game homestand this afternoon at 3 p.m. against Penn Valley. Missouri Valley will take on Three Rivers at 1 p.m. to start day two of the Rosener's Classic.