EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – For the first time in 36 years, the Missouri Western men’s basketball team knocked off a Division-I program, winning 49-44 at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Saturday afternoon.

HEADLINES

– First win over a Division I opponent for MWSU in 36 years (Northern Iowa, 1980)
– First road win of the 2016-17 season and first road win since Mar. 1 of last season (at Washburn in the MIAA Tournament)
– Missouri Western shot a little better than 40 percent from the field and attempted just one free throw in the game

KEY MOMENTS

– Seth Bonifas gave the Griffons the lead, 42-41, on a jump hook that capped a 7-0 run for Missouri Western with 4:13 left
– TJ Evans knocked down a wide-open three with 3:28 left to extend the lead to 45-41
– Missouri Western went on a 19-4 run in the first half that saw a 12-6 deficit become a 25-16 lead with 3:27 left in the half
– SIU-Edwardsville answered the MWSU first half run with a 7-0 run to close the first half and go to the locker room down two (25-23)
– SIU-Edwardsville was 9-15 from the free throw line in the second half, going 1-4 from the line under three minutes.

TOP PERFORMERS
– Aaron Emmanuel had his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds
– Cole Clearman ended with 14 points including 4-9 from the three-point line
– TJ Evans scored 11 points, shooting 5-9 from the field
– Seth Bonifas went 4-7 from the field, highlighted by 3-5 in the second half

UP NEXT
Missouri Western (2-8) hosts Baker University in a single non-conference game on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 2 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —