Warrensburg, Mo. - The Missouri Southern basketball team held second ranked Central Missouri to its lowest point total of the season, but couldn't get past the Mules and lost 78-59 today in Warrensburg.

Southern (6-1, 1-1 MIAA) shot 39 percent from the field, but the telling stat was at the free-throw line. The Lions came into the game, shooting over 80 percent from the charity stripe, but made just 63 percent today. Southern was led in scoring by a career-high 13 points from Keane Thomann as the sophomore went 5-9 from the field. Mariun Price and Skyler Bowlin had 12 points each, while Jason Adams scored 11.

Central (6-0, 2-0 MIAA)  was led in scoring by Sainjay Watts with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Watts had just two points at the half.

A three-pointer from Adams, the only one of the night for the Lions, gave Southern an 11-9 lead with 14:18 left in the first half. A jumper from Crittendon gave the Lions their last lead of the half (13-12) just two minutes later. Central then proceeded to go on a 16-5 run over the next ten minutes and led 28-16 with 3:31 left in the half. A  jumper from Skyler Bowlin as time expired, made the score 33-24 at the half.

The Lions cut the Central lead to five twice in the second half, the last time after a layup from Keane Thomann made the score 35-30 with 17:39 left in the second half. From that point on, however, the Central Missouri lead reached 18 three times, the last after a dunk from Tremaine Lluellen with just under five minutes left, before a layup from Sanijay Watts made the final advantage 19.

Southern was out-rebounded 45-29 on the night and 13-7 on the offensive boards, with the Mules out-scoring the Lions 15-9 in second-chance points. The Lions bench contributed just three points tonight.

The Lions will be back in action this Wednesday evening when they play host to Southwest Baptist at 7:30 pm in the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.