Joplin, Mo. -  The Missouri Southern basketball team led by 21 at the half and as much as 28 three minutes into the second half en route to a 96-73 victory today against visiting Nebraska-Omaha in front of more than 1,400 people in the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

Southern (10-6, 4-5 MIAA) had four players score in double-figures led by a career-high 22 points and 11 rebounds from Keane Thomann. Thomann was 11-17 from the floor and added two assists, two blocks, a steal and played a team-high 33 minutes. Mariun Price and Jason Adams both scored 20 points, with Adams pulling down 15 rebounds. Skyler Bowlin was 6-8 from the free-throw line and scored 18 points with six assists off the bench.

Nebraska-Omaha (13-3, 6-3 MIAA) were led by 19 points from Tyler Bullock on 8-19 shooting from the field.

The score was tied at four early on after a bucket from Thomann. A layup from Bowlin the next trip down the court gave the Lions a 6-4 lead. The score was 11-6, Lions after a dunk from the Mavs' Dion Curry with 14:14 left, but a three from Bowlin as the shot clock expired started a 19-0 run for the Lions over the next five minutes. 

The lead was 20 after a pair of free throws from Crittendon made the score 40-20 with just under five minutes remaining. Back to back dunks from Adams, including one as time expired gave the Lions a 51-30 lead going into the locker room.

The Lions started the second half on an 8-1 run and the Missouri Southern lead reached its largest of the game (28) after a bucket from Thomann made the score 59-31 with 17 minutes to go in the half.

The Lions held UNO, a team that came into the game averaging 86.4 points per game and had just put up 99 points at 16th ranked Southwest Baptist, to just 73 points on the night. Southern out rebounded the Mavs 48-38 and forced 20 turnovers and scored 31 points off of the miscues. The Lions shot 49 percent from the field and 81 percent from the free throw line.

The Lions will be back in action this Wednesday as Southern plays host to Northwest Missouri at 7:30 pm in the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.