LIBERTY, Mo. — Thanks to a late, game-winning and-one bucket from JaRon Thames on Tuesday night, Griffon Men's Basketball defeated William Jewell 84-82 at the Mabee Center to give Missouri Western its first 4-0 start since 2020.

The Griffons had all five starters score in double figures for a second-straight week. Thames led the way with 19 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Julius Dixon added 17 points, and Taye Fields chipped in as well with 15 points and eight rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Missouri Western State started out the scoring by going on an 11-0 run to take an early lead with 15:58 left in the first half. William Jewell (4-1) then responded to tie things up at 35-35 heading into halftime. Missouri Western got the job done in the paint in the first half, scoring 22 of its 35 points close to the basket.

William Jewell then snagged a 45-44 advantage before Western responded by going on a 6-0 run, finished off by Thames' jumper, to seize a 50-45 lead with 14:21 to go in the contest. The Cardinals narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Griffons still held on for the 84-82 win. Western made the most of nine offensive rebounds to tack on nine second-chance points out of 49 total in the period.

With Western down one with six seconds left, Thames knocked down a teardrop shot while drawing a foul, converting on the three-point play to put MWSU up by two. Jordan Jermain of Jewell, who had had a game-high 29 points and shot 4-for-9 from deep on the night, missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to seal the Griffon win and send the Cardinals to the loss column for the first time this season.

The Griffons grabbed 38 rebounds in Tuesday's game compared to William Jewell's 17, led by Fields' eight boards. The Griffons also put in work on the offensive glass, turning 12 rebounds into 12 second-chance points.

GAME NOTES

• Both teams are receiving votes in the latest NABC Top-25 Poll.
• Missouri Western outscored William Jewell 49-47 in the second half after a halftime tie to pick up the victory.
• The Griffons made over half of their attempts from 3-point range, knocking down seven of 13 shots.
• Every Missouri Western starter scored in double figures. Zion Swader had 14 points, and Kiani Saxon contributed 12.
• Missouri Western had a 38-17 edge on the boards in the win.
• Missouri Western cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 12 offensive boards in the game in comparison to Jewell's one.
• Thames has scored 18 or more points in all four games this season.
• Missouri Western got a game-high eight rebounds from Fields.
• The Griffons have won their last six out-of-conference matchups and are 5-1 vs. GLVC teams in the Will Martin Era.

UP NEXT
Western makes its way home for the weekend to take on NAIA program Bethel College (3-4) at 3:30 p.m. this Saturday at the MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph. The Threshers defeated Bethany College 82-59 on Nov. 18 in North Newton, Kansas.