ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Griffon Men's Basketball (10-2, 2-0 MIAA) used a big second half to pull away from Avila in a 92-81 win on Tuesday in the Midland Empire Education Day Game presented by Moffet Nursery and Garden Shop at MWSU Fieldhouse.

The reported attendance was 3,012, as K-6 students from 20 area schools in eight area counties packed the stands.

Avila (8-5, 3-4 KCAC) got off to a strong start, leading 20-6 in the first seven minutes. MoWest missed each of their first eight three-pointers, but eventually got into a rhythm and only trailed 43-40 at halftime.

MoWest, who never led in the first half, took their first lead at 45-43 within the first 46 seconds of the second half off of a Noah King three-pointer.

The Griffons shot 22-of-38 (57.9%) from the field in the second half and scored 52 points in the last 20 minutes to eventually pull away, leading by as many as 14 points in the closing moments.

MoWest shot 10-of-31 from three (32.3%) and 37-of-80 (46.3%) overall, while hitting 8-of-12 (66.7%) at the foul line.

King led the way with a game-best 24 points to go with eight rebounds and four assists. That effort puts King over 2,000 points in his collegiate career. He's also scored 20 or more points in six games this season.

Gavin Hershberger had a season-best 19 points on a 5-of-9 effort from three. Ty Henry scored 15 points to go with seven rebounds. Marko Pavlovic scored 14 points to go with a team-best nine boards and a career-high tying four blocked shots.

MoWest goes on the road this Saturday to play Truman State. Tip-off from Pershing Arena in Kirksville, Missouri is set for 3 p.m.