JOPLIN, Mo. — Missouri Southern junior Elyjah Clark become the school’s all-time 3-point leader today and the Lions took out visiting Fort Hays State, 78-66 on Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
Clark led the Lions (19-5, 10-4 MIAA) in scoring with 22 points, going 9-of-13 from the field and 4-of-7 from the 3-point line, adding five rebounds in the process. He now has 267 3-pointers, passing Austin Wright for the all-time lead. He also moved his career point total to 1,300, just four away from passing Taevaunn Prince for 11th-place all-time.
Cam Martin nearly missed out on a triple-double as he scored 19 points, pulled down nine rebounds and dished out seven assists, also adding a block in the process. Kinzer Lambert had 11 points and nine rebounds, while Enis Memic scored ten and pulled down eight boards.
FHSU (14-8, 8-5 MIAA) had two score in double-figures, led by 13 points from Marcus Cooper.
The game went back-and-forth for the first 12 minues, but a three from Martin gave the Lions a 22-18 lead with 7:40 to go and sparked a 7-0 run that saw Southern lead 26-18 with just under six to play in the half. After the Tigers got within one with 4:22 to go, the Lions went on a 5-0 run to push the lead back to eight and led by six at the half (38-32).
A three from Clark, his second of the game and tied him with Wright on the all-time list, put the Lions up 46-36 with 17:52 left in the half. He hit another three the next trip down to set the record and put Southern up 51-38. A layup from Clark with 13:08 left capped a 13-2 run and saw the Lions go up 59-38.
Clark’s fourth three of the game, this time with ten minutes left in the game put the Lions up 25, their largest lead of the game.
Southern shot 48 percent from the field. The Lions assisted 18 times on their 29 baskets and had five steals in the game.
The Lions will be off this week, but will be back in action one week from today, travelling to play Pittsburg State. Tip off from John Lance Arena is slated for 3:30.
