The Central Methodist men picked up a post-Thanksgiving win over Baker University, 89-86, on Saturday afternoon inside Puckett Field House.

Central improves to 6-1 and 2-1 in the Heart of America, while BU falls to 5-3 and 3-1 in conference play. 

The Eagles entered halftime with a 44-37 lead over the Wildcats. But Baker opened the second half on a 12-0 scoring run in the first 3:24 to take a 49-44 lead. 

Junior guard Everett Stubblefield broke the scoreless streak for CMU with a 3-point basket at the 16:15 minute mark. Central would eventually regain the lead and go up by as many as six points over the final two minutes of game time. 

Baker tied the game at 62-62 at the 10:18 mark on a made free throw before a two-point basket from Peter Turay put Central back out in front. 

The Wildcats scored six-straight points to pull ahead 68-64 with just under seven minutes to play. Baker held their lead until Stubblefield tied the game at 76-76 with a shot from the arc. 

A two-point field goal from Turay put the Eagles up 78-76 at the 3:23 mark. The Eagles would maintain their lead despite the Wildcats staying within striking distance. 

Timely free throws from Marcus Anthony, Trey Sinegal, and Stubblefield, as well as stingy defense, kept the Wildcats at bay, as Central would go on to earn a three-point victory. 

Stubblefield had the second-best scoring game of his career in an Eagle uniform, dropping a game-high 32 points on 75 percent shooting from the floor. He also added seven rebounds, two steals, and an assist in Saturday's win. 

Anthony followed with 17 points in addition to seven rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block. The duo of Turay and Sinegal rounded out the double-digit scores with 14 points each.

While the Wildcats shot better from the floor overall, Central knocked down nine 3-point baskets on 24 attempts compared to just 3-for-17 shooting from the arc for Baker. 

CMU also converted on 78.3 percent (18-23) of their attempts from the free-throw line, while BU finished 68.4 percent (13-19) from the line. 

Baker owned the glass, outrebounding Central 46-40, but the Wildcats turned the ball over 19 times and committed 21 fouls. The Eagles had 16 turnovers.

Central will remain at home to host a struggling Benedictine College (2-4) at 7:30 p.m. tonight.