ST. JOSEPH  – The Sundance Wicks era began with a nail-biting loss to Tarleton State in the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic at Civic Arena. Wicks' Missouri Western men's basketball team fell 78-76 to the Texans, who are receiving votes in the NCBA top-25.
 
Tarleton State made two free throws with 10 seconds remaining to break a 76-76 tie and Lavon Hightower's attempt at his fifth three-pointer of the game went off the rim at the buzzer.
 
NOTABLES

• Tarleton State scored its final four points at the free throw line
• Missouri Western led 74-71 with 2:45 left on two Tyus Millhollin free throws
• Tarleton State tied the game at 74 on a three
• Millhollin gave the Griffons the lead again with two more free throws with 1:37 left
• The game was tied eight times with three lead changes
• Missouri Western took its first lead of the game on a Hightower jumper with 12:59 to go
• The Griffons never trailed again until the final two free throws
• Tartleton State out-rebounded the Griffons 44-34

 
LEADERS

• Hightower led all scorers with 26 points, four short of matching his career high. He did set a new career mark with four made threes. The senior also led the Griffons with eight rebounds and four assists.
• Tyus Millhollin scored 15 points in his Griffon debut, going 6-for-6 at the line and 3-of-7 from three
• Bryan Hudson had eight points, going 4-of-4 at the free throw line
• Tyrell Carroll scored six points in his collegiate debut, going 3-of-5 from the field
• Sam Siganos led the Griffons in plus minus, with MWSU outscoring the Texans by 15 when the transfer guard was on the floor

 
UP NEXT

• The road doesn't get any easier for the new-look Griffons on Sunday
• Missouri Western faces (RV) Fairmont State, which took defending national champion No. 13 Ferris State to the wire Saturday afternoon at Civic Arena