The Missouri Western men’s basketball team opened up MIAA play with a 82-79 overtime victory over the 15th ranked Fort Hays State Tigers. This marked the first MIAA victory for coach Brett Weiberg and marked the first overtime victory since February 23, 2011 when they defeated the Central Missouri Mules 95-91 in Warrensburg, Mo. The Griffons improve to 6-3 overall and 1-0 in MIAA play.
Western got 10 points of their bench helping them to a four point halftime lead over the Fort Hays State Tigers 35-31. A 13-6 run late in the half helped the Griffons claim a 31-24 lead after a layup by Kalvin Balque with 3:23 to play in the frame. The Tigers cut the Griffon lead to four half the half with five points from guard Craig Nicholson during that span.
The Griffons shot 39.3-percent (11-28) from the field with six assists. Dareon Jones had three assists off the bench while Cedric Clinkscales dumped in eight points on 4-of-6 shooting with five boards. Dzenan Mrkaljevic also had five points in the frame. Eight different players scored for Missouri Western in the half.
The Tigers made 44-percent (11-25) of its field goals with Nicholson leading the way with nine points and three assists.
The second half was a back and forth battle as the Griffons pushed its lead to 55-50 with 10:27 to play after Adarius Fulton hit his fifth three point shot of the game. From there the Tigers took control going on a 13-0 run claiming an eight point lead at 63-55 after two free throws from Achoki Moikobu with 6:31 to play in the game.
Western picked up the defense from there allowing the Tigers just four points the rest of the second half. Meanwhile the Griffons kept chipping away at the Tiger lead and with 23 seconds to play Hans Thun it a runner tying the game at 67. A Tiger three as time expired was wide right which pushed the game to overtime.
At the beginning of overtime Thun continued being the hot hand hitting back-to-back three’s giving the Griffons the 73-67 lead with 3:47 to play. Once again the Tigers fought back tying the score at 75 after a Jared Tadlock three point play with 2:15 to play in the extra period. From there Ryan Devers took control scoring the final seven points for Missouri Western, including four free throws sealing the victory. Devers scored 18 of his 19 points in the second half and overtime. He finished making 6-of-7 seven three throws, snaring six rebounds and dishing out seven assists.
Three other Griffons scored in double figures including 15 from Fulton, 12 from Thun and 10 from Dzenana Mrkaljevic. Mrkaljevic led the Griffons with seven rebounds while Clinscales had six. The Griffons made 44.4-percent (28-63) from the field and 16-of-22 free throws. They also hit 10 threes.
The Tigers fell for the second straight time after opening the season 7-0. They are 7-2 overall and 0-2 in MIAA play after falling in overtime on Thursday against Central Missouri. The shot 50-percent (25-50) from the field and 23-28 from the free throw line. Nicholson had 23 points on 7-of-15 shooting while Dwayne Brunson had 13 points. Tomislav Gabric, Carson Konrade and James Fleming had 12, 10 and 10 points respectively.
Missouri Western returns to action on Thursday, December 19 when they hit the road for a contest against Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla. Game time is set for 7:30 pm.
— MWSU Sports Information —