ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western men's basketball team (1-7) couldn't overcome a 14-point halftime deficit, eventually falling 76-59 to Central Missouri (5-1) Saturday afternoon in the MWSU Fieldhouse.
 
HEADLINES

• After trailing by 17 with 1:53 left in the first half, Missouri Western cut the UCM lead to nine with 10:19 left in the game off a Cole Clearman layup
• Central Missouri went on an 11-3 run after the Griffons cut the lead to nine, going back up by 17; the Mules didn't lead by less than 16 the rest of the way
• Missouri Western shot 62.5 percent from the free throw line (6-19)
• Central Missouri shot 57 percent from the field, 52 percent from three-point range and 73 percent from the free throw line

 
KEY MOMENTS

• Central Missouri went on a 23-9 run in the first half after leading by just one point that stretched to 17 after the run
• Missouri Western opened the second half on an 8-2 run to cut the 14-point halftime deficit to eight with 17:27 to go in the game
• Jakob Lowrance hit a three-point field goal for Central Missouri to put the Mules up 54-42 with 10:19 left after Clearman's layup had cut the lead to nine

 
TOP PERFORMERS

• Joe Hamilton led Missouri Western with 13 points on 4-9 shooting from the field
• Cole Clearman scored 11 points and Aaron Emmanuel added 10
• Boris Rajovic had a team-high five rebounds
• Emmanuel and Clearman each had five assists

 
UP NEXT

• Missouri Western travels to No. 3 Northwest Missouri State (7-0) on Tuesday, Dec. 5 for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off