ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western men’s basketball team nearly did what they made a habit of last season in their second game of the 2015-16 season: coming back from a double-digit, second half deficit, but ultimately fell 86-78 to Upper Iowa Saturday inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.

Missouri Western trailed by 14 with 5:08 left in the game, but went on a 10-0 run to pull within four. The first five points of the run were all free throws, three by Mataika Koyamainavure and two by Wes Mitter. Currie Byrd made it a four-point Upper Iowa lead with 3:07 to go when he sank a three pointer, to give him 15 for the game. Upper Iowa stretched the lead to six on a layup, but then fouled Trey Sampson on a three-point attempt. The transfer sunk all three free throws to pull the Griffons within three with 2:28 remaining. After a jumper by the Peacocks, Miles Wentzein scored his first points of the game, a three with 1:51 left to make it a two-point game but Upper Iowa would score the final six points, four on free throws to hang on for the win.

Missouri Western shot 38 percent from the field for the game and 29 percent from the three-point line. They had 40 rebounds to Upper Iowa’s 37. Koyamainavure led the Griffons with 17 points and nine rebounds. Sampson finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. Cole Clearman added 12 points, nine on three made three pointers.

The loss dropped Missouri Western to 1-1 on the year. The team returns to the fieldhouse for its next game, next Saturday, Nov. 21 to host the University of Saint Mary (Kan.).

— MWSU Athletics —