WARRENSBURG, Mo. — Despite holding Central Missouri to just 18.8% from deep in a 3-for-16 shooting performance, No. 22-ranked Griffon Men's Basketball fell 68-60 on the road Saturday inside the Multipurpose Building. 

Taye Fields notched a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Griffons (14-5, 8-5 MIAA). Julius Dixon also tacked on nine points and two steals, and JaRon Thames chipped in as well with six points and six rebounds.

Missouri Western outrebounded Central Missouri 35-29 in Saturday's game, led by Fields' 11 boards. The Griffons also grabbed 12 offensive rebounds and scored 13 second-chance points.

The Mules (10-8, 5-7 MIAA) did not have much luck cleaning up their misses on the offensive glass either, as they finished with two offensive rebounds and managed two second-chance points while MWSU cleared 23 defensive rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Western struggled out of the gate, falling behind 32-27 heading into halftime. Central Missouri kept widening its lead after intermission, constructing a 43-33 advantage before MWSU went on a 6-0 run, finished off by Zion Swader's layup, to shrink the deficit to 43-39 with 12:17 to go in the contest.

Central Missouri responded and outscored the Griffons the rest of the way, ending the game with a final score of 68-60. Western got a boost from its bench in the period, as non-starters accounted for 14 of its 33 total points.

GAME NOTES

• Fields' double-double is his fourth this season and the 15th of his career.
• Western played solid perimeter defense, holding Central Missouri to 18.8% from 3-point land on 16 attempts.
• The Griffon defense forced 13 turnovers.

UP NEXT
Western next plays Fort Hays State (15-4, 10-3 MIAA) this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. back inside the MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph. The Tigers have won three in a row, defeating Emporia State 67-62 on Saturday in Hays, Kansas.