Slow starts have hurt Haskell Indian Nations University’s men’s basketball team all season, and that didn’t change Tuesday against Baker University.

Baker stormed to a 16-point lead in the first eight minutes, and Haskell never pulled closer than three points in a 92-83 loss at Coffin Sports Complex.

“I think we play well in stretches,” Haskell coach Matthew “Cougar” Downing said. “But we have two lulls. We have a lull each half that kind of cost us the game. This has been a constant with our team. We have a three- or four-minute stretch where we can’t do anything right. That’s offensively and defensively.”

Haskell (2-6) trailed by 11 points with 10 minutes left before cutting its deficit to 66-62 with 8:16 remaining on a jumper from senior Duelle Gore, who posted a double-double with a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds.

But the Wildcats (3-3) responded with three-pointers from senior Nick Wilson, sophomore Gregg Easter and sophomore CJ Bolton to take an 80-68 lead with 4:20 left.

Haskell followed with a 13-4 run over the next three minutes, trailing by three points after a three-pointer from junior Ralston Moore, but Baker made eight straight free throws down the stretch, including six from sophomore Nathan Guscott.

“It’s huge. Literally like the last three games have been the exact same situation,” Baker coach Sean Dooley said after his team ended a three-game losing streak.

For Haskell, it was a tough loss, especially when the school revealed its new Nike “N7” uniforms to commemorate Native American Heritage Month.

“Oh, man, all these home losses are painful,” Gore said. “Especially this one. It was a good crowd and everything.”

Baker senior Manuel Barnes led the Wildcats with 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting, “His best game this year by far,” Dooley said.

Baker men 92, Haskell 83

Baker (92)

Manuel Barnes 9-11 0-1 21, Nick Wilson 4-8 1-1 10, Gregg Easter 3-8 4-4 12, Nathan Guscott 4-6 7-8 16, Javeion Gray 2-5 4-4 8, Cody Sunderland 0-0 0-0 0, Brock Mick 0-2 0-0 0, Tyrome Parker 1-2 0-0 2, Clae Martin 2-6 0-0 6, CJ Bolton 4-5 2-2 11, Taylor Johnson 0-1 0-2 0, Daniel Young 3-7 0-4 6. Totals 32-61 18-26 92.

Haskell (83)

Dallas Rudd 1-3 2-2 4, Tsalidi Sequoyah 6-10 3-5 15, Wilber Everett 4-7 2-2 11, Joe Moudy 5-13 0-0 12, Duelle Gore 7-14 7-8 23, Ralston Moore 1-8 4-7 6, Marcus Middleton 1-2 0-0 3, Justin Narcomey 2-5 0-0 6, Ethan Candyfire 0-0 0-0 0, Keith Moore 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 28-63 18-24 83.

Baker 41 51 — 43

Haskell 35 48 — 58

Three-point goals: Baker 10-25 (Barnes 3, Easter 2, Martin 2, Wilson, Guscott, Bolton); Haskell 9-28 (Moudy 2, Gore 2, Narcomey 2, Everett, Middleton, Moore). Turnovers: Baker 10, Haskell 13.

Baker women win

With Haskell’s 6-foot-1 center Keli Warrior out because of an injury, Baker’s women’s basketball team wanted to defend the three-point line and attack the paint Tuesday.

The Wildcats held Haskell to 25 percent shooting from behind the arc and scored 30 points in the paint in a 58-51 victory at Coffin Sports Complex.

Baker sophomore Caitlin Modesett scored a game-high 17 points, including four triples. The Wildcats committed 20 turnovers, but shot 49 percent from the floor, including 7-of-16 from deep.

“We didn’t really want to slow the game down,” Baker coach Ben Lister said. “… I hate playing ugly. I’d rather it be a higher scoring game.”

Haskell junior Kortney Meat led HINU with 13 points, while senior Arnetia Begay added 12 points, five rebounds and four assists.

“I’m happy with the way they battled,” HINU coach Shane Flanagan said. “This team is going to get better. … I’m happy with where we’re at right now.”

Baker women 58, Haskell 51

Baker (58)

Kelsey Larson 3-5 1-2 8, Ericka Simpson 4-8 4-5 12, Jami Hodge 0-3 0-2 0, Caitlin Modesett 6-12 1-2 17, Macy Wallisch 6-8 0-0 12, Jessica Zweifel 1-2 0-0 3, Sydnie Hanson 1-3 0-2 3, Sydney Buchel 0-0 0-0 0, Courtney Hoag 0-2 0-0 0, Taylor Chase 0-1 1-2 1, Mackenzie Cook 1-1 0-1 2. Totals 22-45 7-16 58.

Haskell (51)

Cheyenne Livingston 4-8 0-0 8, Tyler Sumpter 2-6 2-2 6, Brandi Buffalo 2-5 1-2 5, Kortney Meat 2-6 9-11 13, Arnetia Begay 4-10 1-2 12, Ember Sloan 0-0 0-0 0, Tinaya Murphy 1-3 0-0 3, Cerissa Honena-Reyes 1-5 0-0 2, Justina Coriz 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 17-46 13-17 51.

Baker 15 17 11 15 — 58

Haskell 15 12 8 16 — 51

Three-point goals: Baker 7-16 (Modesett 4, Larson Zweifel, Hanson); Haskell 4-16 (Begay 3, Murphy). Turnovers: Baker 20, Haskell 13.