MSSU men drop Southwest Baptist 80-63

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern men's basketball team shot 90 percent from the free throw line for the second-straight game and the Lions defeated Southwest Baptist 80-63 tonight inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

Southern (9-6, 6-3 MIAA) was led by Taevaunn Prince with 30 points for the second-straight game. Prince went 19-20 from the free throw line, tying the single-game (regulation) record for free throws in a game.

Charlie Brown had 14 points on 4-6 shooting, while Isaac Kreuer had 12 points, while Bruce Marshall had eight points, seven blocks and five rebounds. The seven blocks ties Slim Magee for second-most in a single game at MSSU.

SBU (7-6, 2-5 MIAA) had a pair of players score ten points each.

Southern opened up a 6-1 lead early on after a layup from Brown, but SBU took an 11-10 lead after a jumper from Andy Campbell with 12:54 left in the half. The Lions answered back and went on a 10-0 run to lead 20-11 after a three from Brown with 9:59 left in the half.

A pair of free throws from Prince with 5:19 left in the half gave the Lions a ten-point lead (27-17) and Southern went into the locker room with a 33-26 advantage. Prince led all scorers with 13 points in the half.

A three-pointer from DJ Feitl two minutes into the half gave the Lions a 41-29 lead and a free throw from Brown with 16:00 left capped a 7-0 run by Southern to put the Lions up 45-29. A three from Taylor Luster with 13:18 left in the half gave the Lions a 50-45 lead and a pair of free throws from Prince with four minutes to go made the score 71-51.

The lead was 19 after a freebie from Prince and ballooned to 21 after a pair of free throws from Brown with 1:15 to go in the game.

The Lions shot 39 percent from the field and 40 percent from long range, but made 28-31 free throws for 90 percent from the line. The Lions out rebounded SBU 37-35 and scored 18 points off of 11 SBU turnovers. The Lions had just four turnovers, only one in the second half.

Southern will be back in action this Saturday when the Lions play host to Central Missouri. Tip off from Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is slated for 3 pm.