ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Next stop: Kansas City.
Griffon Men's Basketball (13-15, 9-13 MIAA buried Pittsburg State on Saturday afternoon, celebrating Senior Day with a 69-45 victory to close out the regular season at the MWSU Fieldhouse while punching their ticket to the MIAA Tournament. The Gorillas (8-20, 5-17 MIAA) were out of it from the beginning, as the Griffons took a 34-15 lead into halftime. Missouri Western ended the first half with a 9-2 run highlighted by pair of
JaRon Thames layups, eventually leading him to a game-high 18 points.
The second half remained in favor of MWSU, as the Griffons led throughout the entire game, garnering as high as a 32-point lead with 4:55 left to play in the game when
Matt Nunez found a putback bucket. With the win, MWSU ends the regular season with back-to-back wins and momentum heading into the postseason.
NOTABLES
- Thames averaged 20.3 points per game in these final three home games, going off for 20 and 23 vs. Newman and Nebraska Kearney, respectively.
- R.J. Forney was the only Gorilla to score in double-figures, putting up 12 points.
- The Griffons held Pitt State to just 27.3% shooting in the first half.
- The Gorillas shot 8.3% from 3-point ranger in the first half as well.
- Missouri Western only committed nine turnovers compared to its 19 assists.
- Julius Dixon led all starting Griffons with 14 points, as Thames played off the bench due to John Anderson Jr., Will Eames and Alex John all starting on Senior Day.
- Zion Swader chipped in 13 points off the bench, making 3-of-4 shots from downtown in just 21 minutes.
- The Griffons recorded four blocks, with Eames collecting two. John and Taye Fields notched the other two.
UP NEXT
Missouri Western will play Washburn (14-14, 11-11 MIAA) for a third time this season on Wednesday at 12 p.m. in the first round of the MIAA Tournament in Kansas City at Municpal Auditorium. The Ichabods fell to Emporia State on the road this Saturday, 86-64.
