Joplin, Mo. – A three from Vince Fritz with 1:05 left proved to be the game-winner as the Missouri Southern men's basketball team defeated visiting Missouri Western 74-73 on Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
 
Southern (15-10, 9-7 MIAA) had three in double-figures led by a double-double from Dexter Frisbie with 16 points and ten rebounds. Elyjah Clark had 19 points and five steals, while JJ Cratit had 18. CJ Carr had eight assists.
 
Western (7-18, 3-13 MIAA) had four score in double-figures, led by 19 points each from Cole Clearman and TJ Evans.
 
Southern opened the game on a 5-1 run to force a Western timeout. The Griffons went on a 4-0 run to tie it up, but a dunk from Cratit and a three from Carr gave the Lions a 10-5 lead with 15:04 left in the half.
 
The game was tied at 13, 15 and 17 before a three from Western's Clearman as the shot clock was expiring gave Western a 20-17 lead with 8:17 left in the half.  A three-point play from Frisbie the next trip down tied it again.
 
Both teams traded baskets before a three from Clark off a behind-the-back assist from Carr made the score 27-24 with 5:34 to go. A three from Braelon Walker with just more than three to go pushed the Lions' lead to six at 32-26 and a three from Clark made the score 35-27 with 2:09 to play. A late bucket from the Griffons made the halftime score 35-29, Lions.
 
Both teams continued to trade leads to start the second half, before back-to-back three's from the Griffons put Western on top 53-48. A 5-0 run from the Lions tied it back at 53 before another three from the Griffons.
 
Neither team led by more than three points until a three from Western's Joe Hamilton put the Griffons up four (73-69) with 2:13 to go.
 
The Lions, however, got a layup from Clark and a three from Fritz to go up 74-73 with 1:05 to go. Southern had issues making free throws in the final seconds, but defensive stops from the Lions helped seal the win.
 
Southern shot 53 percent from the field and 48 percent from the three-point line. Southern forced 14 Western turnovers and scored 24 points off of the miscues.
 
The Lions will be back in action this Saturday as Southern plays host to Northwest Missouri. Tip off from Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is slated for 3:00 pm.