ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Missouri Western men’s basketball team (1-4) used a furious run in the first half to jump ahead of Maryville University (2-5) Friday and held on through the second half to win its first game of the 2016-17 season, 69-67.  The game was the first for MWSU in the Marriott St. Louis Airport Classic.

The Griffons ended the first half on a 22-6 run to take a 28-25 lead to the locker room. Missouri Western just hung on to that lead, being outscored 42-41 in the second half to earn the win. Maryville took a 19-6 lead with 11:36 left in the first half before a Seth Bonifas layup with 11:11 left triggered a 14-0 Griffon run that gave Missouri Western a 20-19 lead with 6:40 to go in the first.

Bonifas ended the game just short of a double-double with a career-high 14 points and nine rebounds. Cole Clearman led all scorers with 21 points on 9-17 shooting from the field. Clearman added eight assists and two steals. As a team, the Griffons shot 49 percent from the field and out-rebounded the Saints 33-25.

The Griffons play host Missouri St. Louis on Saturday at 3 p.m. in St. Louis.

— MWSU Athletics —