Joplin, Mo. – A 12-0 run to start the second half, as well as holding John Brown scoreless on 10 of its first 11 possessions of the half, vaulted the Missouri Southern men's basketball team to a 72-63 win over visiting John Brown University today inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
 
Southern (3-3) was led by Winston Dessesow who hit six three-pointers en-route to 24 points on the afternoon. Christian Bundy had ten points and five rebounds, while Lawson Jenkins had eight points and Stan Scott had seven points and nine boards.
 
John Brown (7-2) was led by 13 points from DJ Ellis.
 
Southern opened up an 11-6 lead five minutes in after a three from Dessesow and the lead was eight (19-11) after a three from Jenkins with 9:11 on the clock. Southern led by six (32-26) with four minutes left in the half, but the Golden Eagles closed the half on a 5-0 run as the Lions led 32-31 at the break.
 
The Lions opened up the second half on a 12-0 run and held the Golden Eagles scoreless on its first seven possessions and 10 of its first 11 of the half, as Southern led 48-34 with 13:25 left on the clock after a bucket from Ndongo Ndaw.
 
JBU went on an 8-0 run to get back to six (48-42) before a three from Jenkins stopped the run and pushed the Lions' lead back to nine (51-42) with just under ten minutes left. Southern ran its lead back to 14 (68-54) after a layup from Martin Macenis with four minutes left and the Lions held off a late run by the Golden Eagles to take the game.
 
The Lions shot 49 percent from the field and 46 percent from long-range. Southern out rebounded John Brown 40-26, while forcing 14 turnovers and scoring 16 points off the miscues.
 
Southern will be back in action on Thursday, December 2 when the Lions play host to Central Oklahoma. Tip off from Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is set for 7:30 pm.