EMPORIA, Kan. —Taye Fields, Kiani Saxon and JaRon Thames combined to score 43 of Griffon Men's Basketball's 56 total points, but the Missouri Western fell to the Emporia State Hornets 70-56 on the road Saturday inside White Auditorium.
Fields led the Griffons (15-8, 9-8 MIAA) with 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Saxon added 13 points and two blocks, and Thames chipped in as well with 12 points and eight rebounds.
Western pulled down 31 rebounds in Saturday's game compared to Emporia's 27, led by Thames' eight boards.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Western struggled out of the gate, falling behind 35-22 heading into halftime. Emporia (15-10, 8-9 MIAA) kept widening its lead after intermission, constructing a 70-48 advantage before Missouri Western State went on an 8-0 run, finished off by Fields' layup, to shrink the deficit to 70-56 with 10 seconds to go in the contest, The Griffons were unable to cut further into the deficit by the end of the game. Western well from 3-point range in the half, hitting six shots from deep to score 18 of its 34 points.
GAME NOTES
- The Griffons shot well from three point range, knocking down six of 13 long-range attempts.
- Western lost despite a 31-27 rebounding advantage.
- Fields led the Griffons with 18 points.
- Western got eight rebounds from both Thames and Fields.
UP NEXT
The Griffons next take on Northeastern State (8-14, 3-13 MIAA) this upcoming Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at home inside the MWSU Fieldohuse. The RiverHawks fell on Saturday at home 89-87 in overtime against Rogers State.
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