JOPLIN – The Missouri Southern men’s basketball team was within five points of third-ranked Northwest Missouri late, but the Lions couldn’t pull off the upset and fell 84-74 to the visiting Bearcats inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center this evening.
Southern (8-7, 8-7 MIAA) was led by Cam Martin as the senior had his third-straight 30-point game and sixth of the season, scoring 30 points and adding 11 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the year. He also dished out five assists and had four steals and two blocks. Winston Dessesow had 13 points, while Christian Bundy and Stan Scott added 11 and nine respectively.
Northwest (13-1, 13-1 MIAA) was led by 33 points from Ryan Hawkins.
The Bearcats opened up a 19-8 lead 13 minutes into the first half, but Southern fought back and tied the score at 22 after a three from Dessesow with 7:44 that capped a 14-3 run for the Lions.
A three from Northwest gave the Bearcats a 32-27 lead with 4:42 left in the half, and a layup from Bundy with three to go got the Lions within three (33-30). Southern got within five (42-37) after a dunk from Lawson Jenkins with 39 seconds left, but a pair of late free throws gave the Bearcats a 44-37 lead at the break.
A three from Scott with 18:46 on the clock made the score 46-42, Northwest, but a three for the Bearcats with 15 on the clock put Northwest up ten (56-46). A three from Bundy with 14:30 on the clock, made the score 59-51, but a three rom the Bearcats five minutes later pushed the lead to 16 (69-53), but the Lions started to chip away at the Northwest lead.
A three from Dessesow with two minutes to go got the Lions within five (77-72), and a bucket from Martin got the Lions within five again (79-75), but that would be as close as the Lions would get.
The Lions shot 54 percent from the field and 45 percent from long-range on the night. Southern had a 30-28 advantage on the boards.
The Lions will be back in action on Thursday night when Southern plays host to Lincoln. Tip off is slated for 7:30 pm.
Source: https://mssulions.com/news/2021/2/2/mens-basketball-southern-falls-84-74-to-no-3-northwest-missouri
