St. Joseph, Mo. – A 22-2 run in the first half by Missouri Western helped lift the Griffons over visiting Missouri Southern 71-60 today in St. Joseph.
 
Southern (10-5, 4-2 MIAA) was led offensively by CJ Carr with 18 points, on 8-18 from the field. Carr added two assists, a block and a steal. Lawrence Brown scored 15 and added 13 boards, going 7-14 from the field and adding a team-high three assists. Elyjah Clark and Vince Fritz scored 11 points each.
 
Western (5-10, 1-5 MIAA) had four score in double-figures led by 16 from Cole Cleraman.
 
Southern led 11-5 with 16:21 left in the first half after a bucket from Lawrence Brown. The Griffons, however, responded with a 14-0 run before a layup from Carr with 9:43 to go in the half stopped the Western run.
 
The Griffon run reached 22-2 and forced a Southern timeout after Western pushed its lead to 27-13 with 6:44 left in the half.  The Lions got to within 12 twice, but went into the locker room down 41-27 at the break.
 
The Griffons' lead was 14 (54-40) with 10:24 left in the second half, before the Lions went on an 8-0 run to cut the lead to six (54-48) after layup from Brown with 8:52 left to go. Another run by the Lions, this one 6-0 capped by a three-point play from Brown made the score 60-56 with 4:06 left in the game.
 
That would be as close as the Lions would get as the Griffons went on an 11-2 run to go back up 71-58, en route to the win.
 
The Lions shot 38 percent from the field and 83 percent from the free throw line. Southern won the rebound battle 44-33 and held a 11-4 advantage on second-chance points.
 
The Lions will be back in action on Thursday, January 12 when Southern plays host to Lindenwood University. Tip off from Robert Corn Court, inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is slated for 7:30 pm.