ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Taye Fields notched a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds to help Griffon Men's basketball take down the Nebraska Kearney Lopers 72-60 at home Saturday inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.

The Griffons (15-6, 9-6 MIAA) had three players score in double figures, led by Fields' season-high 22 points. JaRon Thames added 14 points and a game-high rthree steals, and Kiani Saxon chipped in as well with 10 points and six rebounds.

Led by Fields' 10 boards, Missouri Western grabbed 34 rebounds in Saturday's game compared to Kearney's 33. With the loss, the Lopers fall to 5-15 overall and 2-13 in the MIAA

HOW IT HAPPENED
After jumping out to a 13-5 advantage, MWSU went on a 10-0 run with 12:47 left in the first half, culminating in a three from Reese Glover, to increase its lead to 23-5. The Griffons then lost some of that lead but still entered halftime with a 32-23 advantage. Western did most of its first-half damage in the paint, scoring 16 of its 32 points close to the basket.

The Griffons coasted to the win from there, increasing their margin of victory by outscoring the Lopers 40-37 in the second half.

GAME NOTES

• Fields' 22-10 double-double is his sixth of the season and his 17th of his career. It's also the second-highest-scoring double-double of his career. 
• Western never trailed on the way to a 72-60 victory.
• The Griffs had a 34-33 edge on the boards in the win.
• Western is now 37-20 at home in the Will Martin Era. With 11 home wins so far this season, it's the most since the team went 12-1 in 2019-20.

UP NEXT
The Griffons will take on Washburn (14-8, 10-6 MIAA) next Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Lee Arena in Topeka, Kansas. The Ichabods fell to Northeastern State 75-66 on Saturday in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.