Javis Flynn provided the dagger for Pittsburg State as the Gorillas defeated the Missouri Western men’s basketball team 63-61 Saturday afternoon in the fieldhouse.

Flynn’s jumper at the buzzer broke the tie and knocked the Griffons to 7-7 on the year and 3-4 in MIAA play. After Cortrez Colbert tied the game at 61 on a goaltending call against Lamine Dieng, Flynn drove left and put up the shot to win it as time expired. It was the third time in the final two minutes that Colbert tied the game after the Griffons were able to erase an 11-point lead.

Colbert and Cole Clearman finished with 18 apiece for the Griffons, who shot just 41.5 percent from the field, including just 28 percent in the first half. Pittsburg State shot 56 percent for the game and 60 percent in the first half to build an 11-point halftime lead.

The Griffons take on defending national champion Central Missouri on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the fieldhouse.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women’s basketball team got hot in the second half but couldn’t overcome No. 5 Pittsburg State in an 81-71 loss in the fieldhouse Saturday afternoon. It was the fifth straight loss for the Griffons and dropped the team to 7-6 overall and 1-6 in MIAA play.

MWSU shot 61 percent from the from the field in the second half and 70 percent from behind the arc. Missouri Western was able to cut the Gorilla lead to single digits in the final minutes after trailing by as many as 20 but couldn’t hold Pitt State.

LaQuinta Jefferson once again eclipsed the 20-point mark, with a game-high 29 points. Mili Koyamainavure chipped in 10 as the team shot 50 percent from the field for the game.

MWSU will host Central Missouri on the 14th in the last of three straight at home.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Big shots down the stretch paid off for the Missouri Western men’s basketball team in a 54-50 win over Emporia State Thursday night. The win moves the team’s overall record to 7-6 and 3-3 in MIAA play.

After Emporia State grabbed a five-point lead with 11:49 to go, Cortrez Colbert sank a three to tie the game at 36. Colbert erased a three-point ESU lead with 8:59 left with another big shot to tie the game at 39 and he gave MWSU the lead back, 42-39 when he made yet another three with 7:33 to go. Missouri Western would stretch its lead to five before Emporia State climbed back to tie it at 46 with 4:30 left. Then it was Cole Clearman’s turn. The freshman drilled a three with 1:50 left that gave the Griffons the lead for good.

Colbert finished with 22 points. It’s the fourth time in the last five games that the senior has eclipsed 20 points. Clearman added 13 on 3-of-5 shooting from behind the arc. The Griffons shot 56 percent in the second half after shooting just 29 percent from the field in the first frame. MWSU was 10-18 from behind the arc in the second half.

Missouri Western stays in the fieldhouse with the second of three in a row at home when Pittsburg State visits Saturday at 3:30 PM.  The game will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ and here at StJosephPost.com.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women’s basketball team suffered its fourth consecutive loss Thursday night inside the MWSU Fieldhouse, as they rallied from a 16-point second half deficit but fell short against No. 1 Emporia State, 57-56.

Western falls to 6-6 this season and they’re 1-5 in the MIAA.

Despite the Griffons starting the second half 0-14, they managed to pull within one of the Lady Hornets with 1.2 seconds left in the game after Sarafina Handy hit a contested three-pointer. MWSU trailed by 14 with five minutes remaining, then outscored Emporia State 16-7 over the final five minutes. It was too little too late though as Emporia State successfully inbounded the ball and let the clock run out.

Missouri Western was led by LaQuinta Jefferson’s 19 points with Handy chipping in 11. The Griffons shot 31 percent from the field for the game, shooting 35 percent in the first half and 28 percent in the second half.

The Griffons return to the fieldhouse Saturday as they host No. 5 Pittsburg State at 1:30 PM.  The game will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ and here on StJosephPost.com.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Former Missouri Western All-American running back Michael Hill was signed to the 53-man active roster of the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday.

Hill has joined the team in Indianapolis as they prepare for their AFC Divisional Playoff game this Sunday at Denver.

Hill, who will wear No. 25, was on the Colts practice squad earlier this season before ending the year on the Washington Redskins practice squad.  He began 2014 on the Green Bay Packers practice squad.

The St. Joseph Central High School graduate played in two regular season game in 2013 for the Packers and then played in six for the Buccaneers in 2013.  He has nine career carries for 23 yards, as well as two receptions for 23 yards.

Hill was the Harlon Hill Award runner-up at Missouri Western as a senior in 2012 and is the Griffons all-time leading rusher with 4969 yards and 35 touchdowns.  He ran for 2168 yards in 2012 and 16 TDs.

Indianapolis placed right guard Hugh Thornton on injured reserve Tuesday, which made room for the team to sign Hill.  His addition gives the Colts four tailbacks on the roster. He joins Dan Herron, Trent Richardson and Zurion Tipton.

Hill and Colts play the Denver Broncos at 12:05 p.m. Sunday.

The Missouri Western men’s basketball team snapped a five-game road losing streak with a gutsy, come from behind, 81-77 overtime win at Nebraska-Kearney Monday night.

After Cortrez Colbert’s runner came up short in the final seconds of regulation, the Griffons outscored the Lopers 14-10 to pull off their first road win since defeating Lincoln in Jefferson City last February. Nebraska-Kearney led by nine at the half and trailed until three minutes left in regulation when Colbert tied the game at 60. The senior guard had another chance to play hero at the end of regulation but his layup missed sending the game to overtime, when MWSU quickly built a six-point lead that was too much for the Lopers to overcome.

Colbert finished with a game-high 23 points followed by 16 from Kevin Thomas and 12 from Hans Thun. Missouri Western shot 44 percent from the field; dominated the paint (40-24) and overcame a deficit on the boards to move to 6-6 on the year and 2-3 in MIAA play. Nebraska-Kearney is now 8-4 and 4-2 in league play.

It’s back to St. Joseph for the Griffons who host Emporia State on Thursday at 7:30.

— MWSU Sports Information —

For the second-straight game, the Missouri Western Women’s Basketball team made a late push but ultimately came up short. This time it was an 86-81 loss at Nebraska-Kearney on Monday for the Griffons 15th straight road loss. All of that came despite, a career night from LaQuinta Jefferson.

Trailing by 11 with five minutes remaining, the Griffons clawed back to tie the game on a Jefferson layup, 78-78, with 1:08 left on the clock. Nebraska-Kearney responded with a three to go back ahead with 48 seconds left and never let MWSU back in it.

Jefferson’s layup to tie gave her a career-high 40 points. It was the first time a Griffon has scored 40 or more since Ashleigh Curry dropped 40 against BYU-Hawaii on Dec. 19, 2006. Aside from Jefferson’s 19 first half points, the Griffons mustered little offensively, shooting just 9-28 from the field. For the game, MWSU shot 45 percent from the field and 32 percent from behind the arc. They shot 11 more field goals than the Lopers but were hurt by the cold shooting in the first half and 22 turnovers that resulted in 30 of the Lopers points.

The Griffons get a break from the road, with a three-game homestand beginning Thursday night. They host No. 1 Emporia State on Thursday with No. 5 Pittsburg State coming to the fieldhouse on Saturday.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri western men’s basketball team struggled to find much offense Saturday night in Topeka as they loss to Washburn 85-60.

The Griffons shot just 37 percent from the field and managed just 18 first half points. The team dropped to 5-6 on the year and 1-3 in MIAA play.

Washburn jumped out to a 10-2 lead and never looked back, finishing with a 54 percent field goal shooting percentage. The Ichabods led the entire way, leading by as many as 32 points.

Cole Clearman led the Griffons with a career-high 19 points. Cortrez Colbert was limited to 12 points on 3-10 shooting. Keven Thomas led the Griffons with eight rebounds.

Missouri Western will look to get back to .500 when they travel to Nebraska-Kearney on Monday for a 7:30 PM tip.  The game will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ and here on StJosephPost.com.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women’s basketball team rallied from a 14-point second half deficit Saturday night but came up short of upsetting No. 8 Washburn, falling 78-71 in Topeka.

Washburn opened the second half with a 13-8 run that stretched their lead to 14 before the Griffons came firing back on hot shooting by LaQuinta Jefferson. The junior scored MWSU’s first seven points in the second half on her way to a game-high 25 points, 23 of which came after halftime. After falling behind by 14, MWSU used a 16-4 run to pull within two, tying the game with 1:08 remaining on two free throws from Jefferson. The Ichabods outscored MWSU 8-1 through the final minute to claim the victory.

Missouri Western shot 45 percent from the field, 40 percent from behind the arc and 61 percent at the free throw line. Washburn dominated inside, scoring 46 points in the paint to just 28 for the Griffons. The lead changed three times with Missouri Western’s largest lead coming early in the first half at five points.

Sarafina Handy added 16 points and Mhykeah Baez led the Griffons with nine rebounds and three blocked shots before fouling out.

Missouri Western travels to Nebraska-Kearney on Monday for a 5:30 PM tip and the game can be heard on 680 KFEQ or here on StJosephPost.com.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western senior guard Cortrez Colbert has been named the MIAA men’s basketball Athlete of the Week.

Colbert led all scorers in two games last week as he had 25 for the Griffons in a win over Northeastern State, and added 24 in a 62-57 loss to Central Oklahoma on Saturday.

For the week, the senior from Midwest City, Oklahoma, averaged 24.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 4.5 steals per game.

Colbert and Missouri Western are 5-5 on the season and 1-2 in the MIAA.  They’re off until January 3 when they play at Washburn.