JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Caleb Bennett (19 pts) was one of four Missouri Western players in double figures on Thursday night as the Griffons moved to 3-0 in MIAA action with a 78-76 win at Lincoln. MWSU overcame a 35.1 percent (13-37) shooting performance in the second half to beat the Blue Tigers.

It was a slow start for Missouri Western, as Reese Glover knocked down a three-pointer with 17:22 on the clock after five Griffon misses, putting MWSU in front 3-2. Three quick see-saws later and Missouri Western hit its stride, with a JaQuaylon Mays jumper sparking a 15-0 run to put the Griffons in front 20-6.

The Griffons held off a couple of Lincoln pushes as the first half wound to a close, taking a 46-38 lead into the locker room. As the final buzzer sounded, there was a brief exchange that resulted in offsetting technical fouls to Mays and Josh Wallace.

Bennett stretched the Missouri Western lead back to double-figures on the first possession of the half with a 15-footer, but Lincoln was able to whittle the deficit over the next 10 minutes, tying the game at 59-59 on a Derrick Woods three-pointer.

Glover answered right back for MWSU with a triple off a helper from Mays, and the Griffons edged out to a 71-61 lead with 6:57 to play, as Mays found Alex John on the break for a big dunk.

Chris Baldwin knocked down a triple with 44 seconds on the clock to make the game interesting, and Tre'vion Crawford grabbed a rebound off a miss by Missouri Western then drew contact on the break. He was only able to make one of two free throws, with the Griffons holding tight to a 78-76 lead with 20 seconds on the board.

With a couple of fouls to give, Lincoln tried to keep as much time on the clock as possible, managing to send Bennett to the line with 11 to go.

Bennett wasn't able to connect on the front end of the one-and-one, but a strong defensive effort from Missouri Western preserved the win, as Ni'Sean Rigmaiden was forced into a bad look.

Missouri Western finished the night hitting at a 40.8 percent (31-76) pace and a 40.0 percent (10-25) rate from beyond the arc. The Griffons take on Central Missouri to wrap up the weekend with a 3:30 p.m. tipoff