ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western men’s basketball team got back to the .500 mark behind hot shooting in an 86-63 win over Graceland Monday night inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.

Western shot 43 percent from the field, 48 percent from three-point range and 83 percent from the free throw line to move to 2-2 on the season.

The Griffons jumped out to a 46-31 halftime lead behind 56 percent three-point shooting and nine made three-pointers in the first half. Missouri Western sank 12 three’s on the night, five from Cole Clearman and four from Trey Sampson. Sampson led all scorers with 23 points. He and Clearman were two of four Griffons in double figures. Clearman finished with 17, Mataika Koyamainavure had 13 and Kevin Thomas had a double-double, scoring 11 and adding 10 rebounds.

Missouri Western forced 16 Graceland turnovers and turned the ball over just nine times with 17 assists. Missouri Western also finished with a 35-31 advantage on the glass and limited Graceland to 36 percent shooting from three-point range.

The Griffons hit the road for a few weeks, beginning with a trip to San Antonio, Texas for the St. Mary’s Thanksgiving Classic. Missouri Western will face Angelo State on the 27th and St. Mary’s on the 28th.

— MWSU Athletics —