The Missouri Western men’s basketball team lost their third straight game as they fell on the road Wednesday at Central Missouri, 81-63. The Griffons got outscored 21-7 in the final 5:09 of the game dropping the Griffons to 7-9 overall and 2-6 in MIAA play.
Despite being undersized the Griffons hung in with Central Missouri going into the half down just four at 36-32. The most the Griffons trailed by during the first half was six points. The Mules opened up a five point lead at 11-6 after a Jordan Epps three with 15:36 to play in the half. Kalvin Balque gave the Griffons a spark off the bench making back-to-back three’s cutting the Mule lead to 18-17 with 10:33 to play in the half. The Griffons continued to play well tying the score at 21 after a layup by Charlie Marquardt with 8:10 to play.
The rest of the half the Mules would go inside to claiming the four point half time lead. The Mules dominated the points in the paint outscoring the Griffons 22-8. They also outrebounded the Griffons 25-18 which included 10-2 on the offensive end of the floor.
The Griffons shot just 40.7-percent (11-27) from the field but did make 5-of-9 long range shots and 5-of-6 free throws. Cortrez Colbert had four points and five rebounds in the half while Devers had three rebounds and three assists. For the first time since the Central Oklahoma game on December 21 the Griffons trailed in the turnover margin at half. They turned the ball over seven times to the Mules two.
The Mules were led by Dillon Deck with 11 points and nine rebounds while Charles Hammork had 10 points and two assists. The Mules shot just 38.5-percent (13-39) from the field and 25-percent (3-12) from long range.
The Mules opened up the second half going on a 15-6 run opening their biggest lead of the night at 51-38 after a Ryan Magdziarz three pointer. The Griffons continued to play hard and back-to-back three’s by Cortrez Colbert and Balque helped the Griffons cut the Mule lead to 55-50 with 8:39 to play.
The game stayed close and with 5:09 to play the Griffons trailed by just one at 60-56. Two Magdziarz long range shots extended the Mule lead to 10 which ended any chance at the Griffons upset. The Mules improve to 14-3 overall and 6-2 in MIAA play.
On the night the Griffons shot 43.8-percent (21-48) from the field and long range (7-16). The Griffons also shot the ball well from the free throw line making 14-of-20. Ryan Devers led the Griffons with 16 points and six rebounds while Balque finished with 15 points. Colbert had 13 points and six rebounds.
The Griffons got outscored 38-18 in the paint and 14-2 in points off turnovers. The Griffons got out rebounded 42-26 and 13-3 on the offensive end of the floor. The Mules scored 13 second chance points.
The Mules had four players score in double figures with Deck and Hammork each had 20. Deck also had 12 rebounds. Magdziarz had 17 points while Daylen Robinson pitched in 11.
Missouri Western returns to action on Saturday, January 18 with a home contest against the Southwest Baptist Bearcats. Game time is set for 1:30 pm in the MWSU Fieldhouse.
— MWSU Sports Information —