KEARNEY, Neb. — The 23rd-ranked Missouri Southern men’s basketball team trailed 16-12 in the first half, but a 12-0 run spurred the Lions to a big win on the road today, defeating Nebraska-Kearney 104-67 inside the Health and Sports Center.
Southern (23-6, 14-5 MIAA) will be the third seed in next week’s MIAA Tournament and will face-off with sixth-seed Pittsburg State at 2:15 pm on Friday, March 8 inside historic Municipal Auditorium.
The Lions were led offensively by a career-night from Parker Jennings as he had a career-best seven three pointers, scoring 23 points and adding three assists. Braelon Walker scored 17 on 5-of-10 from long-range, while Elyjah Clark scored 15, Cam Martin added 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Kinzer Lambert and Enis Memic scored 11 points each.
The 37-point win is the largest margin of victory for the Lions against an MIAA opponent since Southern defeated then 22nd-ranked Washburn 110-73 on December 7, 2013.
Southern trailed 16-12 at the first media timeout in the opening half, but the Lions went on a 12-0 run out of the timeout and led 28-16 after a three from Clark with 10:44 left in the half. Another three from Clark with eight minutes left gave the Lions a 42-23 lead and a bucket from Martin with 6:49 to go gave the Lions a 22-point lead (47-25). Another bucket from Martin as time was expiring gave the Lions a 55-34 lead at the break.
Southern led by as many as 43 in the second half after a layup from Reggie Tharp made the score 100-57.
This is the sixth time the Lions have topped the century mark this season and it’s the eighth-different Lion to score 20 points in a game this year. The Lions shot 57 percent from the field in the game and 46 percent from long-range making 18 3-pointers as five different Lions had a three in the game.
Southern out-rebounded the Lopers 45-33 and had a 40-30 advantage in the paint. The Lions had ten offensive rebounds that led to 19 second-chance points, while forcing 11 turnovers that led to 13 points.
The Lions will be back at it next week in the 2019 MIAA Basketball Tournament at historic Municipal Auditorium. Southern will take on Pittsburg State at 2:15 pm on Friday, March 8.
