ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Griffon Men's Basketball kept Avila to just 13.3% from deep in a 2-for-15 shooting performance on the way to a 90-37 victory over the Eagles at home Saturday inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.

The Griffons (9-3, 3-3 MIAA) had four players score in double figures, led by Taye Fields, who had 14 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Julius Dixon added 12 points and three steals, and Zion Swader chipped in as well with 11 points and two steals.

Missouri Western State shared the ball well in Saturday's game, racking up a season-high 20 assists on 36 made field goals. JaRon Thames' four assists paced the Griffons, and Josh Book also chipped in with four assists of his own. On defense, Missouri Western's defense held Avila to only 21.8% from the field.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Western started out the scoring by going on an 8-0 run, culminating in a bucket from Fields, to take an early lead with 17:34 left in the first half. The Griffons then added 10 points to that lead by the end of the period and entered halftime with a 36-18 advantage. Western did most of its first-half damage in the paint, scoring 18 of its 36 points close to the basket.

Following intermission, Western kept widening that lead, expanding it to 59-21 before going on an 11-0 run, finished off by Ethan Killgore's layup, to grow the lead to 70-21 with 9:27 to go in the contest. The Griffons kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 90-37 win. Western took care of business in the paint, recording 30 of its 54 points in the lane.

GAME NOTES

• With only 37 points given up, it's the third-fewest points MWSU has allowed in program history.
• Western lit it up from beyond the arc, knocking down 10 treys in the game.
• The Griffons held the Eagles to only 21.8% shooting from the field.
• Western never trailed on the way to a 90-37 victory.
• The Griffs tallied a season-high 20 total assists in the game.
• Western had a stellar day defensively, holding Avila to 13.3% from beyond the arc on 15 attempts.
• Western's bench came alive by scoring 34 points, all of which came in the second half.
• The Griffons forced 22 Avila turnovers while committing only 10 on the other end.
• Western had a 50-34 edge on the boards in the win.
• The MWSU defense forced 22 turnovers.
• The Griffons were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, recording 11 blocks as a team.
• Western turned the ball over only 10 times while dishing out 20 assists.
• The Griffs cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 14 offensive boards in the game.
• Fields led the Griffons with a game-high 14 points.
• Western got seven rebounds from both Matthew Schneider and Fields. For Schneider, it was a career-high.
• Kilgore tied a Griffon career-high with nine points.

UP NEXT
The Griffons take on Rogers State (6-5, 3-2 MIAA) this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Claremore Expo Center in Claremore, Oklahoma. The Hillcats defeated Southwestern Christian 97-84 on Saturday in Claremore.