Topeka, Kan. – A career-high 23 points from Elyjah Clark helped lift the Missouri Southern men's basketball team over Washburn 89-76 tonight on the road at Lee Arena in Topeka.
 
Southern (11-7, 5-4 MIAA) was led by Clark's career night of 23 points, going 7-14 from the field and 5-11 from three-point range. JJ Cratit scored 16 points on 6-10 shooting, while Kinzer Lambert and CJ Carr scored 12 points each. 
 
Washburn (12-5, 4-4 MIAA) had five score in double-figures, led by 12 from David Salach.
 
An early 5-0 run by the Lions put the Lions up 12-7 with 14:33 left in the first half, but Washburn eventually tied it at 14. At that point, both teams traded baskets, before a 9-0 run by the Lions, capped by a three from Clark, gave the Lions a 33-24 lead with 7:33 left in the half.
 
The Ichabods answered back with an 8-0 run to come within one (33-32) with 4:44 left, but the Lions closed on an 11-6 run and went into the locker room up 44-38 at the break. Southern made eight three-pointers in the half, shooting 50 percent from long-range.
 
Southern opened up a ten-point lead (50-40) on a three-point play from Cratit with 18:55 left in the second half. The lead was 14 (59-45) after a layup from Carr and a free throw from Lawrence Brown with 7:24 left in the game kept the lead at 14 (75-61).
 
A layup from Clark with 2:07 left in the game made the lead 16 (82-66) and the Lions would cruise to the win.
 
Southern shot 40 percent from the field and 44 percent from the three-point line, making 11 threes on the night. Southern forced 16 turnovers and scored 18 points off of the miscues and the team led for nearly 34 of the 40 minutes played.
 
The Lions will be back in action this Sunday when they travel to Emporia, Kan. to take on Emporia State. Tip off from White Auditorium is slated for 5 pm.