ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Missouri Western Men's Basketball took a halftime lead into the locker room vs. Central Missouri but ultimately fell to the Mules on Saturday at the MWSU Fieldhouse, 79-74.
Reese Glover led the Griffons (8-10, 4-7 MIAA) with 19 points on 5-of-10 shooting from three.
JaRon Thames added 18 points while
Taye Fields grabbed eight rebounds. As a team, the Griffons shot 50% from the floor and 37.5% from three while holding the Mules (9-10, 5-8 MIAA) to 40% from three and 36.7% from the floor.
The key difference in the game was free throws, as the Mules got to the line 26 times, making 23 of them. The Griffons went to the stripe 18 times, making 15.
The first half was defined by excellent shooting from the Griffons.
Reese Glover was 3-of-4 from downtown at the break, leading the Griffons with nine points. Mikel Henderson was 5-of-9 from the field to lead Central Missouri with 13 points. Seven Griffons scored in the first half, and only two players finished the half with a negative plus/minus.
Gaven Pinkley scored 19 points in the second half for the Mules, including four made threes on only five attempts. Missouri Western had a chance to tie the game with a three but missed with six seconds left. Central Missouri went on to sink two more free throws to ice the game.
NOTABLES
- Glover's 19 points is a season-high.
- Five different Griffons connected from deep.
- The Griffons outscored the Mules in the paint, 30-14.
- Missouri Western only turned the ball over eight times.
- The Griffons led for the majority of the game, only allowing the Mules to be in front for eight minutes and 31 seconds.
UP NEXT
The Griffons make the trip to Hays, Kansas, to take on Fort Hays State (12-6, 7-5 MIAA). Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 26. The Tigers recently lost to Washburn, 74-64, on Wednesday in Topeka, Kansas, and will play No. 24 Emporia State on Sunday a 4 p.m. in Emporia, Kansas.
The Tigers (12-6, 7-5 MIAA) fell to Washburn on Thursday, 74-64. They play No. 24 Emporia State on Sunday.
