ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The last time Griffon Men's Basketball was this good, most of their freshmen class hadn't been born.

Snagging the second-most rebounds in team history with 19, Taye Fields' double-double led Missouri Western State over the Bethel Threshers 72-60 at Saturday afternoon at the MWSU Fieldhouse.

With the win, Missouri Western is 5-0 for the first time since 2005, when most of its freshman class hadn't even been born yet. The Griffons had four players score in double figures, led by JaRon Thames, who had 15 points, six assists and two blocks. Fields tacked on with 14 points and 19 rebounds, and Zion Swader chipped in as well with 11 points and four steals.

Missouri Western outrebounded Bethel 45-36 in Saturday's game, paced by Fields' 19 boards.

The Griffs did a great job disrupting Bethel shots in the contest, coming away with a season-high six blocks. Fields' career-high three rejections led the way individually for the Griffons.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Missouri Western started out the scoring by going on a 7-0 run, culminating in a three from Swader, to take an early lead with 18:34 left in the first half. The Griffons then surrendered that lead and entered halftime down 35-34.

Bethel kept widening its lead after intermission, constructing a 51-41 advantage before Western went on a 9-0 run, finished off by a Thames' jumper, to shrink the deficit to 51-50 with 10:06 to go in the contest. The Griffons kept the rally going and took the lead for good Thames' layup with 7:13 minutes left for a 72-60 comeback victory. Western got out on the break in the period, scoring eight fast break points.

GAME NOTES

• Fields' double-double is his first this season and the 12th of his career.
• The Griffons held the Threshers to only 33.8% shooting from the field.
• Missouri Western had a 45-36 edge on the boards in the win.
• Thames led the Griffons with 15 points. He has scored 15 or more in all five games.
• Julius Dixon chipped in with 10 points.
• At least four Griffon starters have scored in double digits in the last three games.
• Western has won its last seven non-conference matchups
• The Griffons are 3-0 vs. NAIA teams in the Will Martin Era.

UP NEXT
Western opens up its MIAA schedule with  7:30 p.m. showdown with Pittsburg State (2-2) this Thursday at home inside the MWSU Fieldhouse. The Gorillas lost to William Jewell 85-72 on Saturday in Pittsburg, Kansas.