MSSU men defeat Lincoln 95-79

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern men's basketball team took another step toward a first-round bye and an automatic berth to Kansas City, as the Lions disposed of visiting Lincoln 95-79 tonight on Senior Night on Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. 

Southern (18-10, 12-7 MIAA) had five players score in double-figures led by 17 points and seven rebounds fromTaevaunn Prince. Lane Barlow scored 13 and added six boards, while Cameron Cornelius scored 12, Austin Wright added 11 and Greg Renfroe scored ten. 

Lincoln (4-24, 1-18 MIAA) had three score in double-figures led by 19 points each from Josh Buie and Blake Ralling. 

The Lions started the game hot as with five of the six seniors starting (Barlow odd man out) all five had scored when Southern led 13-3 after a three from Randy Clark with 16:18 left. A layup from Morgan Smith made the score 15-3 and a tip-in from Barlow made the score 17-3 with 14:43 to go in the half. 

The Southern lead reached 21 after a three-point play from Blaine Miller made the score 38-17 with 7:12 to go. A late three from Lincoln made the halftime score 45-31, MSSU. 

Southern led by 18 (63-45) after a pair of freebies from Prince with 13:37 to go, but Lincoln chipped away at the lead and a layup from the Blue Tigers' Jeremy Jackson with just under seven to go made the score 70-64, MSSU. 

The Lions then kicked into high gear. Southern went on a 9-0 run to push its lead to 15 after a pair of free throws from Wright and a jumper from Renfroe with 2:27 to go made the lead 17 (90-73). Two freebies from Prince gave the Lions their largest lead of the half (19) when the score was 92-73 with 1:43 to go. A layup from Bryan Adamsmade the final score 95-79. 

The Lions shot 53 percent from the field and 86 percent from the free throw line. Southern had a 54-32 advantage in the paint and the Lions had a 39-25 advantage on the boards. The Lions' bench out scored Lincoln 61-18. 

Southern will now wait for the numbers to be released from the MIAA for what the Lions' seed will be to the MIAA Tournament. With Northwest Missouri and Central Oklahoma both winning today, the chance the Lions will have to play on Monday look slim, but an official announcement will be coming from the MIAA later tonight, as well as on www.mssulions.com.