Joplin, Mo. – A 12-0 run late in the second half lifted the Missouri Southern basketball team over Newman 74-70 today on Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
 
Southern (5-3, 2-0 MIAA) was led by Christian Bundy as the junior scored 16 points and pulled down 11 rebounds as well as a career-high five blocks. Winston Dessesow and Stan Scot had 14 points each, while Alex Jones scored 12 and Martin Macenis added nine.
 
Newman (3-4, 0-2 MIAA) was led by 22 points from Stevie Strong.
 
Dessesow hit a three-pointer to open up the game and the Lions led 12-8 after a bucket from Bundy with 14:56 left in the first half.
 
Newman answered back and the Jets led by three (17-14) with 12 minutes to go, before the Lions got a three from Alex Jones and a bucket from Ndongo Ndaw a minute later to go back up 19-17. Southern extended its lead to four at the five minute mark (29-25) and led by seven (32-25) after a pair of freebies from Scott.
 
Newman jumped ahead 36-32 after an 11-0 run with 1:44 to play, but a three from Dessesow with a minute to go and a running three from Bundy as time expired put the Lions up 40-36 at the break.
 
A three from Jones and a step back jumper from Dessesow two minutes into the second half put the Lions up 47-36 and a layup from Martin Macenis with 15:10 to play made the score 50-43, Lions.
 
A 10-0 run for the Jets put Newman up 57-52 with 9:28 left in the second half and the Lions trailed 66-60 with 6:17 to go. Southern turned it around as the Lions answered with their own run (12-0) to lead 72-66 after a bucket from Scott with 2:59 to go. The Lions held on down the stretch.
 
The Lions shot 51 percent in the game and 55 percent from the three point line.
 
Southern will be back in action a week from today with a road game at Rogers State.