Joplin, Mo. - A 17-0 run midway through the second half, lifted Missouri Southern over Emporia State tonight, 82-64 as more than 700 fans braved the winter weather to cheer on the Lions in the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

Southern (8-5, 2-4 MIAA) breaks a four-game MIAA losing streak with the win. Jason Adams led the Lions with 15 points and 10 rebounds for his for his first career double-double. Keane Thomann scored 12 on 6-8 shooting from the field. DaRell Crittendon had seven points and eight rebounds off the bench, while Chris Scruggs scored 10.

ESU (6-8, 2-5 MIAA) had four score in double figures led by a game-high 18 points from Matt Boswell. Dustin Andrews scored 13, while Lamar Wilbern and Taylor Euler scored 12 and 10, respectively.

Southern trailed 9-7 five minutes into the game before a three from Adams with 13:09 left in the half gave the Lions a 12-11 lead. The Southern lead was 21-11 after a jumper from Chris Scruggs in the lane, making the Lions' run 14-4 with 11:41 left. A three point play from Bowlin pushed the Southern run to 26-10 and gave the Lions a 33-19 lead with 7:30 left in the half.

The Lions' lead reached 41-24 after a steal and a layup from Mariun Price with 4:15 left. A late push from Emporia made the halftime score 49-36, Lions.

Southern led 53-38 after a jumper from Thomann with 18:19, but the Horrnets fought back and cut the deficit to eight after a three pointer from Boswell. The Lions, however, responded and scored six-straight points after breakaway baskets from Adams and Landon Zerkel, and a pair of free throws from Zerkel. A pair of three's Travis Jones and Crittendon made the Lions' run 14-0 and the score 73-51 with six minutes left.

The run reached 17-0 before a three from Dustin Andrews made the score 76-54 with 4:18 to go in the game. Emporia went eight minutes without a point.

The Lions shot 51 percent from the field and 79 percent from the free throw line. They out rebounded the Hornets 39-31, while forcing 24 turnovers and scoring 33 points off of the ESU miscues. The Lions out scored Emporia 46-28 in the paint.

The Lions go back on the road for two pivotal contests as Southern travels to Washburn this Saturday and the Lions take on tenth ranked Fort Hays on Monday.