THE MISSOURI WESTERN MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM HAD THE GAME OF THEIR LIVES WEDNESDAY NIGHT UPSETTING THE NUMBER ONE TEAM IN THE NATION, THE MISSOURI SOUTHERN LIONS 75-67 AT THE FIELDHOUSE IN ST. JOSEPH.
THE GRIFFONS SHOT A SCORCHING 52.2 PERCENT FROM THE FLOOR LED BY JAMES HARRIS AND HIS GAME HIGH 26 POINTS.
THE HOT NIGHT FROM THE FLOOR GOT STARTED RIGHT OFF THE TIP AS THE GRIFFONS HIT SIX OF SEVEN THREE POINT ATTEMPTS AND HIT NINE OF 12 FREE THROWS IN THE FIRST HALF TO BUILD UP A 41-26 ADVANTAGE AT THE BREAK.
WESTERN EXTENDED THEIR ADVANTAGE EARLY IN THE SECOND HALF GOING ON A 12-6 RUN TO BUILD THEIR LEAD TO IT'S BIGGEST POINT AT 59-43 WITH JUST UNDER 12 MINUTES TO PLAY.
THE LIONS CUT THE LEAD TO TEN ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS BUT COULD NEVER GET CLOSER THAN THE FINAL EIGHT POINT MARGIN.
THE GRIFFONS ENDED THE NIGHT 11 OF 14 FROM DOWNTOWN. DEIONTA MITCHELL SCORED 14 POINTS AND REED MELLS ADDED TEN OFF THE BENCH.
THE MISSOURI WESTERN WOMEN DIDN'T FARE AS WELL AS THEY FELL TO THE MISSOURI SOUTHERN WOMEN 66-62 DROPPING THEM TO 2-5 OVERALL AND 0-3 IN MIAA ACTION.
WESTERN COMMITTED 25 TURNOVERS THAT LED TO 23 SOUTHERN POINTS AND HELPED SEAL THE GRIFFONS FATE.
THE GRIFFONS HAD A 31-27 ADVANTAGE AT HALFTIME THANKS IN PART OT A PAIR OF DECENT SCORING RUNS. THE GRIFFONS WENT ON AN 11-3 RUN TO TAKE THE LEAD AT 11-9, AND THEN LATER IN THE FIRST HALF THE GRIFFONS USED A 6-2 RUN TO CLOSE THE HALF WITH A FOUR POINT LEAD AFTER SOUTHERN HAD TIED THE GAME AT 25.
THE GRIFFONS USED ANOTHER BIG 19-6 RUN EARLY IN THE SECOND HALF TO BUILD A NINE POINT LEAD WITH JUST MORE THAN 12 MINUTES TO PLAY.
THE LIONS RESPONDED THOUGH AND OUT SCORED MO WEST 29-16 DOWN THE STRETCH TO TAKE THE WIN.
MISSOURI WESTERN'S WOMEN SHOT JUST 34.6 PERCENT FROM THE FLOOR BUT WERE 20 OF 24 AT THE CHARITY STRIPE.
JESSICA KOCH LED THE GRIFFONS WITH 22 POINTS WITH BRITTANY GRISWOLD ADDING 13 AND A TEAM HIGH SEVEN REBOUNDS.
WESTERN'S MEN AND WOMEN WILL NEXT BE IN ACTION ON SATURDAY WHEN THE TRAVEL TO FORT HAYS STATE UNIVERSITY. THE WOMEN TIP OFF AT 2 PM AND THE MEN WILL TAKE ON THE NUMBER 10 RANKED TIGERS STARTING AT 4 PM.