FORT SMITH, Ark. – For the third time this season, the Missouri Western men's basketball team (2-4) fell in overtime, 81-80 to Southeastern Oklahoma State (2-3) in the Hampton Inn Thanksgiving Classic on Friday.
 
The Griffons took an 80-79 lead with 12 seconds remaining in the overtime period on an Alex Martin 3-pointer, but gave up the winning layup with one second left on the clock. Missouri Western trailed by one with one second left in regulation, but a foul on TJ Evans sent the senior guard to the line. Evans sunk both free throws to send the game to overtime.
 
Missouri Western led for more than 66 percent of the game, using an 18-0 lead late in the second half to build its largest lead of the game, 12 points with 2:39 to go before halftime. Southeastern Oklahoma scored eight of the last 10 points scored in the first half, sending the Griffons to the break with a 37-31 lead.
 
After shooting better than 59 percent from the field in the first half, Missouri Western was limited to 33 percent shooting in the second half, getting outscored by the Savage Storm by six points in the second half.
 
Cole Clearman and Seth Bonifas both scored 15 points for the Griffons. Trey Brown scored 12 points, all coming in the second half. Alex Martin scored 11 points. Bonifas led the Griffons with seven rebounds. Clearman had a team-high eight assists.
 
UP NEXT
The Griffons take on Arkansas-Fort Smith (5-0) at 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 25.