WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The No. 23 Missouri Western men's basketball team suffered its second consecutive loss for the first time in over a year as they fell at Central Missouri Thursday, 70-64.  The Griffons drop to 8-3 this season as UCM improves to 6-8 with their fourth straight win.
 
MWSU played its first game in two weeks after having to pause all team activities due to positive COVID-19 results among their Tier 1 personnel after the Griffons' loss to Nebraska-Kearney on January 14.  After going back-and-forth with UCM in the first ten minutes, Central Missouri went on an 18-2 run to build a 15-point lead, 32-17.  Western ended the half strong to get back in the game as they scored eight straight and eventually trailed 34-25 at halftime.
 
Missouri Western pulled to within five points two different times in the first nine minutes of the second before Central Missouri extended its lead to 13 points, 61-48, with 11 minutes to play.  The Griffons then outscored UCM 16-3 over the next 10 minutes to tie the game 64-64 with 1:11 left in regulation, but MWSU failed to score again.  The Mules scored on their final three possessions and Western came up empty on theirs.
 
Caleb Bennett led Missouri Western with 19 points and a career-high six rebounds.  JaRon Thames and Will Eames added 11 points each and Tyrell Carroll scored 10 points, had five rebounds and five assists.
 
The Griffons struggled from the floor as they shot just 34.9% (22-of-63) from the field and 23.8% (5-of-21) from the three-point line.  Central Missouri shot 45.5% (25-of-55) for the game and outrebounded MWSU 41-36.
 
UP NEXT
Missouri Western travels to Jefferson City on Saturday to play Lincoln at 3:00 p.m. inside Jason Gym.  The Blue Tigers are 7-4 after losing at home to No. 3 Northwest Missouri State Thursday, 76-74.  The game will air live on the Griffon Sports Network (680 AM/95.3 FM) and the MIAA Network.