Pittsburg, Kan. - The 15th ranked Missouri Southern men's basketball team got a big game from Cam Martin and made clutch free throws down the stretch as the Lions defeated Pittsburg State inside John Lance Arena 79-72 today to complete the season sweep against the Gorillas.
Southern (15-3, 8-1 MIAA) was led by Martin's 37 points as he went 16-of-26 from the field and added 13 rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Reggie Tharp had 14 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Braelon Walker scored 13, going 3-of-5 from the field, 3-of-3 from long-range and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. Kinzer Lambert scored 12 points and added six rebounds and four assists.
Pitt (7-11, 3-6 MIAA) was led by 27 points from AJ Walker as for Gorillas scored in double-figures.
The Lions opened the game on a 5-0 run and led 10-4 after a three from Martin with 16:13 left in the half. The lead was ten (14-4) after a putback from Lambert with 13:33 to go, but Pitt fought back and climbed within three (15-12) with nine minutes to go in the half.
A pair of freebies from Lambert with 7:43 left pushed the Southern lead to 22-14, while a three from Walker with 5:24 to go gave the Lions a 29-20 advantage. Another three from Walker, this time with 4:27 to go pushed the lead back to ten (32-22). PSU got within five (32-27), but a three-point play from Martin with three minutes to go got the lead back to eight and the Lions led 37-32 at the break.
A three from Tharp with 18:56 left in the 2nd half put the Lions up 40-34, while a dunk from Martin made the score 42-35 with 18:16 left. A layup from Martin with 15:49 left gave the Lions a 46-40 lead, while a three from Walker with 14:25 left pushed the lead to seven at 49-42.
A three from the Gorillas with 12:20 left in the half, moved Pitt within four (51-47), but a freebie from Martin made the score 52-47 with 11:45 left. A three from Pitt's Walker with just under ten to go made the score 52-50, while a layup from Martin with just more than nine minutes left gave Martin 30 points and the Lions led 54-50.
PSU briefly took a 57-56 lead, but a dunk from Lambert with 7:35 and a layup from Martin with just under seven to go gave the Lions a 60-57 lead. A turnaround jumper from Martin with 5:59 left pushed the lead to five (62-57) and three free throws from Lambert with 5:16 on the clock made the score 65-57.
A huge three from Lambert with 2:58 on the clock put the Lions up 11 (71-60), while a three point play from Martin with 2:21 left put Southern up 74-62. The Gorillas made it close late, but clutch free throws from the Lions down the stretch sealed the win. Southern was 11-of-13 from the free throw line in the final five minutes of the game.
Southern shot 48 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free throw line. The Lions out rebounded the Gorillas 42-26, including a 13-7 advantage on the offensive boards.
The Lions will be back in action this Wednesday as Southern plays host to Northeastern State. Tip off from Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is slated for 7:30 pm.
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