The Apprentice School closed the first half with a 7-2 spurt to lead 36-33 at the break and the Builders led the rest of the way to take an 80-65 victory Friday evening in non-conference men's basketball action.

Mary Baldwin took the lead, 31-29, when Vernon Fraley kncoekd down a 3-pointer with 2:16 left in the first half, but Jayden Eason answered with a 3-pointer to put the Builders up 32-31 with 1:31 remaining on the clock. Inside buckets by Clifton Goode and Eason stretched the Apprentice lead to 36-31 before Brandon Stoudamire battled in the paint to score in the closing seconds of the half to pull MBU to within three, 36-33.

The Builders opened the second half with a 6-0 spurt to lead by nine 42-33 and the Fighting Squirrels would get no closer than seven points the rest of the game.

Fraley and Brett Asbury each scored 11 points to pace MBU while teammates Quentin Hart and Stoundamire each contributed 10 points. Eason led the Builders with 37 points and 12 rebounds.

MBU, now, 1-6 on the season, returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 11, when the Squirrels travel to Gresnboro College for a conference matchup.