ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The Missouri Western men used a big second half to pull away from Lincoln University and pull off an 89-73 win on Thursday night for the home at the Fieldhouse.  

The Griffons (2-0, 2-0 MIAA) shot 48% from the field and had four players in double figures, led by sophomore Will Eames, who dropped in 25 points and 11 rebounds.  Fellow sophomore JaRon Thames added 16 points off the bench, with Tyrell Carroll and Q Mays adding 14 and 12 respectively. 

Trailing 10-4 early, MWSU used a 17-3 first half run to take early command.  Eames scored 16 of his 25 in the half to help guide the Griffons to a 46-35 lead at the half.

The Blue Tigers (2-1, 2-1 MIAA) would respond, opening the 2nd half on a 16-5 to tie the game at 51 at the 15-minute mark, but the Griffons responded with a 26-8 run down the stretch to pull away for the 16 point victory.

Next up for MWSU, a date with Central Missouri on Saturday, December 5th at the Fieldhouse.  Tip-time is scheduled for 3:30 pm.
 

NOTABLES:

MWSU is 2-0 for the first time since the 2014-15 season and 2-0 in MIAA play for the first time since 2009.   

Playing in front of a socially-distanced and Covid capacity-limited crowd of 589, the Griffons used the Vanderbilt model for the team benches, with both the home team and the visitors seated on opposite baselines beside each basket.