JOPLIN, Mo. – Griffon men’s basketball (3-10, 1-5 MIAA) fell at Missouri Southern (9-6, 4-2 MIAA) 72-66. The Lions connected on four three pointers in the final 3:37 minutes of the game to pull away from MWSU.

Missouri Western led most of the second half as it outscored Missouri Southern 15-4 in the first 10 minutes of the second half. The Griffons had a nine-point lead with 10:16 remaining in the game after they rattled off 10 straight points.

A Trey Brown three-pointer with 25 seconds left in the first half allowed Missouri Western to tie game at the half and build momentum for the second half. The Griffons used a 9-0 run at the 7:54 minute mark in the first half to take a four point lead and erase a five point deficit.

MWSU led for over 18 minutes in a back and forth game that had 14 lead changes and 12 ties. Defensively, the Griffons held the Lions to nine points under their season average. Missouri Southern knocked off No. 1 Northwest Missouri in its last game on Jan. 4.

NOTABLES
– Bryan Hudson had career highs with 14 points and eight rebounds

– Lavon Hightower scored 19 points, it the seventh straight game he has been in double-figures

– The Griffons were 78.6 percent from the free-throw line, the fourth highest this season

– Missouri Southern’s Elyjah Clark scored seven of his 21 points in the final minute of the game

– MSSU outrebounded MWSU 47-35 and 21-10 on the offensive side of the ball

UP NEXT
Missouri Western hosts Southwest Baptist on Thursday, Jan. 11. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the MWSU Fieldhouse.

— MWSU Athletics —