ST. JOSEPH – The No. 22-ranked Daemen men's basketball team (1-1) led Griffon Basketball (0-2) for just 3:31, but it led when it mattered most. The Wildcats overcame a tremendous effort by MWSU to win 68-64 in the final game of the Small College Basketball National Hall of Fame Classic at Civic Arena.
 
Missouri Western led for more than 33 minutes, including a 62-61 lead with 1:41 left, but a Daemen layup gave the Wildcats a 63-62 lead they never relinquished. Missouri Western was held without a field goal over the last 2:12 of the game and finished 1 for its last 12 from 3-point range.
 
The Griffons led by 10 after a 10-0 run late in the first half, but Daemen answered with a 9-1 run of its own that sent the Griffons to the half leading 34-32.  
 
NOTABLES

• Missouri Western shot 33% from the field in the second half and was 3 of 15 from 3-point range after the break.
• Daemen shot 52% in the second half after shooting just better than 40% in the first.
• Missouri Western forced 23 Daemen turnovers that turned into 23 Griffon points.
• MWSU outscored the Wildcats 32-22 in the paint.
• The Griffon bench outscored Daemen's 22-16.
• Tyrell Carroll was one point short of matching a career-high scoring 22 points, 17 in the first half. Carroll's total led all scorers in the game.
• Jaron Thames was 7 of 14 from the field for 17 points and five rebounds.
• Will Eames led the Griffons with seven rebounds, was 6 for 6 at the free throw line and scored 10 points.

 
UP NEXT

• Griffon Basketball hosts the Hillyard Tip-Off Classic at Civic Arena, Nov. 8^th and 9^th.
• Both the women's and men's teams will participate this year.
• The Griffon men play Minnesota State Moorhead Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m.