The Missouri Southern men's basketball team led from start to finish and took out previously unbeaten and number one ranked Northwest Missouri 88-71 today in front of more than 2,000 fans on Robert Corn Court at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
Southern (16-10, 10-7 MIAA) defeats a number one ranked opponent for the first time since the 2000 Elite Eight when the Lions defeated Florida Southern to move on to the Final Four. Northwest (24-1, 16-1 MIAA) loses for just the first time this season as the Lions stopped a 28-game MIAA winning streak by the Bearcats.
The Lions had five score in double-figures led by 26 points from CJ Carr. Carr went 12-18 from the field and added three assists and three steals. Elyjah Clark (pictured) scored 17 and pulled down a game-high nine rebounds, while JJ Cratit scored 15 and Kinzer Lambert added 14. Lawrence Brown had 12 points.
Northwest was led in scoring by Justin Pitts with 20 points.
The Lions opened up a 28-11 lead midway through the first half on a three from Clark with 10:20 left in the first. The Bearcats cut the lead to 11 twice, before a jumper from Cratit with 5:26 to go pushed the lead to 34-21.
Northwest then went on a 9-2 run to cut the lead to four (34-30) with just 1:52 to go, but a pair of freebies from Lambert gave the Lions a 38-32 lead at the break.
The Bearcats cut the Southern lead to three twice in the early moments of the second half and then a pair of free throws from Chris-Ebou Ndow made the Lions' lead just two at 45-43 with 15:58 to go.
Southern then went on a tear and a jumper from Carr capped a 15-3 run by the Lions and gave Southern a 61-46 lead with 11:06 to go. The Bearcats cut the lead back to nine at 8:08 left in the game, but the Lions pushed the lead back to 17 (80-63) on a layup from Carr. Southern would make its free throws down the stretch to seal the big win.
The Lions shot 53 percent from the field in the game and 58 percent in the second half. Southern made 89 percent of its free throws.
With the win, the Lions move into a three-way tie for fourth place in the MIAA standings with Fort Hays State and Central Oklahoma and are just a game out of second place.
The Lions will be back in action on Tuesday evening as Southern travels to Pittsburg State to take on the Gorillas. Tip off is slated for 7:30 pm.
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