TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Propelled by a 20-point night for Zion Swader and a 19-rebound night by Taye Fields, Griffon Men's Basketball defeated the Northeastern State RiverHawks 73-55 on the road Saturday at the NSU Event Center.

Swader added five rebounds and three steals to his 20 point game to lead the Griffons (11-3, 5-3 MIAA). Fields helped out with a double double of 18 points and 19 rebounds, tying his own career high from earlier this season. Fields' rebounding performance is the second-best single-game total in program history.

JaRon Thames chipped in with 11 points and six rebounds, and Kiani Saxon scored 10. Led by Fields' nine offensive rebounds, Missouri Western State did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 18 boards that resulted in 18 second chance points.

The Missouri Western defense held Northeastern (5-7, 0-7 MIAA) shooters to just 38.5% from the field, including 30% from 3-point range. The RiverHawks did not get many second opportunities on the offensive end, as they grabbed only six offensive rebounds and scored five second chance points. Meanwhile, MWSU pulled down 27 defensive rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After falling behind 17-15, Missouri Western State went on a 20-0 run with 11:16 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Thames, to take a 35-17 lead. The Griffons then maintained that lead and entered halftime with a 37-19 advantage. Western did most of its first half damage in the paint, scoring 25 of its 37 points close to the basket.

Western kept its lead intact before going on a 6-0 run, finished off by Swader's three, to grow the lead to 69-47 with 2:34 to go in the contest. The RiverHawks narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Griffons still cruised the rest of the way for the 73-55 win. Western took care of business in the paint, recording 27 of its 36 points in the lane.

GAME NOTES

• This game marks Fields' third double-double of the season and the 14th of his career.
• The Griffons held the RiverHawks to only 38.5% shooting from the field.
• Western never trailed in the second half on its way to victory.
• The Griffons had a 45-26 edge on the boards in the win.
• Western turned the ball over only seven times while dishing out 14 assists.
• The Griffs cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 18 offensive boards in the game.
• Swader led the Griffons with a game-high 20 points.

UP NEXT
Missouri Western prepares for a showdown against No. 19 Northwest Missouri State (11-3, 7-1 MIAA) this upcoming Saturday at 3:30 p.m. inside the MWSU Fieldhouse. Northwest has won six in a row, beating Rogers State 78-57 on Saturday in Claremore, Oklahoma.