Ryan Devers scored a career-high 35 points and led Missouri Western to a 89-82 win against Nebraska-Kearney Monday night at MWSU Fieldhouse.

Devers’ career high went alongside six assists and six rebounds, while the Lopers were led by Mike Dentlinger, who had 25 points.

Nebraska-Kearney jumped out to an 9-2 lead in the first four minutes of the game.

The Griffons came back and tied it up at 15 minutes later. From there, neither team led by more than three unitl Missouri Western took control with a 3-pointer from Dareon Jones. The trey made it 28-23 with 7:25 remaining in the opening frame.

The Griffons built a 10-point lead on a layup by Kalvin Balque toward the end of the half. That was followed by Devers’ fast break to go up 42-30 with 1:30 left.
Dentlinger put in a jumper right before the buzzer to mark the score 44-34 at the half.

At halftime, the Griffons were led by Devers, who had 13 points and five assists, both were team highs. The Lopers were led by Dentlinger, who had 13 points and Davion Pearson, who had six assists.

Nebraska-Kearney chipped away at the lead and it eventually settled at 52-49 with 13:39 left in the game.

After the Griffons went up double digits, the Lopers again cut the lead back down. Highlighted by Dentlinger’s three-point play, the Lopers made the game 75-71 with less than three minutes to play. Charlie Marquardt’s nice cut to the basket put the Griffons back up six, and after a turnover, Cortrez Colbert knocked down one of his two free throws to go up 78-71 with 1:40 left.

Pearson nailed a 3 seconds later to go back to a four-point game. Less than a minute later, the Griffons found themselves ahead 82-74, but Pearson again knocked down a trey to cut the game to 82-77.

Devers clinched the victory with five free throws in the final minute as the Griffons won 89-82. The Griffons next play on Wednesday at Emporia, Kan. against Emporia State.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women used a strong defensive effort picking up its first MIAA victory of the season. The Griffons held the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers to just nine field goals in a 55-46 victory in the fieldhouse. The Griffons were led by Tiara Hall with seven points and career best 13 rebounds. MWSU also snapped a six game losing streak improving to 5-6 overall and 1-4 in MIAA play.

The Griffons dominated the first 15 minutes of the opening frame taking a 23-4 lead after two Alexis Gray free throws with 5:56 to play in the half. From there the Lopers hit a few free throws and a couple of shots cutting the Griffon lead to eight at the half at 25-17.

The Griffons scored the first nine points of the game and continued the solid play opening up the 19 point lead. The Lopers hit 10-of-15 free throws and connected on a layup and a three with under a minute left closing on a 13-2 run. The Lopers made just 3-of-17 field goals and had sixteen turnovers. Alexa Hogberg led the Lopes with seven points making 5-of-7 free throws.

The Griffons made 9-of-28 field goals and had eight points in the paint to the Lopers two. Six Griffons scored in the frame with Jallisa Lewis leading the way with six point. Tiara Hall had nine of the Griffons 20 rebounds.

The Griffons held at least an eight point lead for the whole second half. They used a 13-5 run opening up their biggest lead of the second half at 46-30 after a layup by Quenisha Lockett with 6:40 to play. The Lopers responded going on a 7-0 run cutting the Griffon lead to 46-37 with 4:54 to play.

Down the stetch the Griffons hit their free throws sealing the victory. The Griffons hit 12-of-17 free throws in the second half and went 17-for-27 in the game. Ten different Griffons scored in the game with Lanicia Lawrence and Sharniece Lewis each scoring eight points.

The Lopers fall to 5-7 on the season and 2-4 in MIAA play. They hit just 9-of-43 field goals but did make 25-of-37 free throws. They also had 44 rebounds with Shelby Zimmerman collecting 10.

The Griffons return to action on Wednesday, January 8 when they travel to Emporia, Kan. to play the 3rd ranked Emporia State Hornets. Game time is set for 5:30 pm in White Auditorium.

— MWSU Sports Information —