The Missouri Western men’s basketball team struggled shooting free throws down the stretch making just 9-of-17 in a 59-57 loss against Emporia State. Justin Reid collected a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds as Western falls to 5-3 overall and 0-2 in MIAA play.
The Griffons scored the first basket of the game off a layup by Lavonte Douglas. Western never led again in the half as ESU opened up an eight point lead midway through the half after a Traves Dykman layup with 11:13 to play in the frame. Western used an 8-0 run sparked by two three point baskets by Reed Mells tying the game at 13 with 8:35 to play.
The Hornets regained momentum going a 7-0 run taking a 20-13 lead after a Tola Lawal three with 5:53 left in the half. Western responded outscoring the Hornets the rest of the half 12-6 cutting the ESU lead to 26-25 at the break. The Hornets outscored Western 18-4 in the paint and forced eight Griffon turnovers.
Western shot 32.1-percent (9-28) in the frame with Dylan Frantz, Mells and Reid all scoring six points. The Hornets shot 40-percent (12-30) from the floor with Lawal dumping in seven points.
Western took control early in the second half taking their first lead since the 19:37 mark of the first half after a three pointer by James Harris with 18:00 minutes to play. Western built thier lead to as many as seven at 51-44 after a Douglas layup with with 8:02 to play.
The Griffons held a 53-48 lead with 6:02 to play, but missed free throws down the stretch kept ESU in the ball game. Western made just 3-of-7 free throws in the final four minutes, which allowed Chris Sights to sink a three pointer with 22 second to play giving ESU a 58-57 lead. The Griffons had a couple chances to take the lead or tie the game in last few second but the Hornets held on improving to 5-2 overall and 1-1 in MIAA play.
Harris and Douglas were the only other Griffons in double figure scoring 17 and 11 points respectively. Western outrebounded the Hornets 39 to 30 but only shot 37.7-percent (20-53) from the field and 52.9-percent from the foul line.
The Hornets shot 43.1-percent (22-51) from the field and made 10-of-15 free throws. The Hornets outscored the Griffons by 16 points in the paint (30-14) and forced three more turnovers (15-12). Derrell Conner finished with 13 points while Lawal and Sights finished with 11. Troy Pierced had a double-double scoring 10 points and snaring 10 rebounds.
The Griffons return home on Wednesday, December 7 to take on the 2nd ranked Missouri Southern Lions in MIAA action. Game time is set for 7:30 pm from the MWSU Fieldhouse. This is the Griffons last home contest until Wednesday, January 4, 2012 when they host the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats at 7:30 pm in the fieldhouse.
— MWSU Sports Information —