ST. JOSEPH – Griffon Men's Basketball never trailed by more than five points and led by as many as 18 on way to its first win of the season, 70-55 against Minnesota State Moorhead, Friday night at Civic Arena.
 
Moorhead jumped out to a 7-2 lead, but the Griffons stormed back and took a 34-32 lead to halftime after two Tyrell Carroll free throws at the end of the half, gave the Griffons the lead. The back-and-forth first half included 11 lead changes and six ties, but there would be neither after halftime as Missouri Western controlled the second.
 
After MSU Moorhead shot 52% in the first half, the Griffons limited the Dragons to 29% shooting in the second half. MWSU opened the second half on a 9-0 run, which was an 11-0 run counting Carroll's free throws from the end of the first half. With 9:21 to go, the Griffs led by 18 against a MSU Moorhead team that went 19-12 last year. Missouri Western outscored the Dragons by 14 in the second half, shooting 43% from 3-point range and 75% at the free throw line.
 
NOTABLES

• Will Eames led the Griffons with 18 points and tied for the team lead with seven rebounds.
• Carroll had 16 points and five assists and five steals.
• 10 Griffons played and eight scored.
• Missouri Western recorded 10 steals on 21 MSU Moorehead turnovers.
• The Griffons' five starters combined to score 59 of MWSU's points while Moorhead's starters scored 30.

 
UP NEXT

• Missouri Western closes out the 28^th Annual Hillyard Tip-Off Classic, Saturday night at 8 p.m. against Minnesota Crookston.
• The Golden Eagles led No. 1 Northwest Missouri by a point at halftime, but lost 60-52 Friday at Civic Arena.