Hot shooting led the Missouri Western men’s basketball team to a 96-77 victory over the St. Mary’s (Kan.) Spires in non-conference action. The Griffons made 56.9-percent (37-65) of its shots with 10 three’s. Five Griffons scored in double figures led by Dzenan Mrkaljevic with 16 on 6-of-11 shooting. He scored 11 of his points in the second half. MWSU improves to 5-3 on the season and will return to action on Saturday, December 7 with the MIAA opener against Fort Hays State in the fieldhouse. Game time is set for 3:30 pm.
Western closed the half on 12-6 run capped by a Ryan Devers three as time expired giving the Griffons a 49-43 lead heading into the locker room. Devers finished the half with five points and seven assists.
MWSU shot the lights out in the opening period making 60.6-percent (20-33) of their field goals and 5-of-6 free throws. Missouri Western had 28 points in the paint and 10 points off seven St. Mary’s turnovers. Dareon Jones led the Griffons with 10 points off the bench as eight different players scored in the frame for Missouri Western.
The Spires also shot the ball well making 54.5-percent (18-33) of their field goals with four three’s. Sterling Roaf led the way with 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting while Grant Greenberg finished with 10.
Missouri Western dominated the second half opening up an 18 point lead at 75-57 with 11:21 to play after a layup by Cedric Clinkscales. The Griffons continued the uptempo play taking their largest leaf of the game at 21 after a Wes Mitter three with 1:35 to play. Mitter had six points on two three’s late in the contest.
Western had 20 assists with Devers finishing with seven while Adarius Fulton and Cortrez Colbert had four. The Griffons also ahd 16 points on 12 Spire turnovers. Colbert and Jones finished with 14 points while Clinkscales and Devers had 11 points apiece. Mrkaljevic finished with a team high six reboiunds.
The Spires fall to 4-3 with the loss as they were led by Torren Dowdy with 18 points and eight rebounds. Greenberg finished with 15 points while Sterling Roaf and Jerry Sipple finished with 12 and 11 respectively.
— MWSU Sports Information —