Missouri Western sophomore guard Reed Mells scored the Griffons final nine points including six straight free throws down the stretch helping the Griffons to the 79-74 upset over #17 Washburn on Wednesday evening. Mells finished with 18 points, seven assists and three steals. The Griffons improve to 9-12 overall ad 5-8 in MIAA play.
The Griffons played the Ichabods to a 35-35 tie after a Dzenan Mrkaljevic layup with 3:28 to play in the first half. The Ichabods were able to close ona 5-1 run taking a 40-36 haltime lead. Both teams made 13 field goals in the first half with Dylan Frantz leading the Griffons with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting. Martin Mitchell led the Bods with 20 points on 5-of-7 shooting from long range.
The Griffons continued to sizzle from the field in the second half making 61.9-percent (13-21) of their field goals. The Griffons made 57.8-percent (26-45) from the field and 10-of-20 from long range. The Griffons battled back from being down by as many as nine in the second half.
Back-to-back three’s by Kalvin Balque and Alfreeman Flowers gave the Griffons a 70-67 lead with 3:13 to play in the game. The Ichabods hit a shot cutting the Griffon lead to 70-69 but Mells nailed another three giving MWSU a 73-69 lead with 1:35 to play.
A Martin three cut the Griffon lead to one and down the stretch MWSU escaped a couple of errors and hit its free throws picking up the victory. The Ichabods fall to 14-5 overall and 7-4 in MIAA play.
Despite Mells five other Griffons scored in double figures which included Dzenan Mrkaljevic with 16 points. Dylan Frantz and Alfreeman Flowers each finished with 12 points while Cedric Clinkscales and Kalvin Balque dumped in 11 and 10 points respectively.
For the Ichabods Martin Mitchell scored a game high 32 points. Will McNeill had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
The Griffons and the Ichabods will have a rematch a week from tonight on Wednesday, February 13 in St. Joseph, Mo. Game time is set for 7:30 pm in the MWSU Fieldhouse.
— MWSU Sports Information —