ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The 22^nd-ranked Missouri Western men's basketball team stayed unbeaten at home this season as they defeated Emporia State 70-61 Thursday night inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.  The Griffons improve to 7-1 and have now won 16 of their last 17 games at home.

MWSU overcame their second worst shooting performance of the season by forcing a season-high 27 turnovers and getting 21 steals against the Hornets.  Western junior Caleb Bennett tied a season-game school record with eight steals in the game and Tyrell Carroll added five.  The 27 turnovers forced were the most by a Griffon men's team since getting 30 against Quincy on December 4, 2007.

Missouri Western also faced their biggest deficit of the season on Thursday as they trailed Emporia 21-14 midway through the first half.  MWSU quickly used a 15-2 run to take the lead back and eventually leadi34-31 at halftime.  Western had 16 of their 21 steals in the first half and forced 20 turnovers in the first 20 minutes but shot only 1-for-15 from the three-point line in the opening half.

The Griffons never relinquished the lead after halftime and they used a 13-3 run midway through the second half to take a 12-point lead and Emporia State never got closer than five points the rest of the way.

Bennett scored a career-high 22 points on 10-of-14 shooting, while Carroll added 15 points, five assists and three rebounds.  Q Mays was also in double figures with 14 points and Will Eames had 11 and eight rebounds.  MWSU finished the game 42.0% (29-of-69) from the field and shot only 4-of-23 from the three-point line.

The No. 22 Griffons are back at home Saturday as they entertain 5^th-ranked Washburn at 7:30 p.m. inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.  The Ichabods upset No. 1 Northwest Missouri State Thursday in Maryville 84-82 in overtime.