Tahlequah, Okla. – The Missouri Southern men's basketball team overcame a nine-point second-half deficit and the Lions won 72-71 tonight inside the NSU Event Center.
 
Southern (8-4, 5-1 MIAA) was led offensively by Lawson Jenkins who scored 19 points off the bench on 4-of-6 from long-range and 5-of-7 from the field. Stan Scott had 15 points and four assists, while Avery Taggart scored 9 and Winston Dessesow and Alex Jones scored eight each. Christian Bundy had six points and ten rebounds.
 
NSU (8-8, 3-7 MIAA) had four score in double-figures, led by a double-double from Emeka Obukwelu with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The two teams traded baskets early on before a three from the RiverHawks gave NSU a 12-7 lead with 14:23 left in the first half. A three from NSU gave the RiverHawks a 15-10 lead a minute later, but a free three from Scott with 10:30 left tied the score at 17.
 
NSU went back up 27-19 after a layup with 7:08 to go in the half and led by ten (37-27) with four minutes to go. A layup from Jones with 1:41 left cut the lead to four (39-34) and another jumper from Jones cut the lead to just two a minute later. A late bucket from NSU gave the RiverHawks a 41-37 lead at the break.
 
NSU held the lead for most of the second half. The RiverHawks led 60-51 with 8:23 to go, but a three from Dessesow cut the lead back to four (66-62) with 4:45 to go. A pair of free throws from Jenkins with 4:23 on the clock cut the lead to two (66-64) and a steal from Scott led to a dunk from Bundy to tie the game at 66 with 3:55 to go.
 
Jenkins hit a three the next trip down to put the Lions up 69-66, but the RiverHawks tied it with a three of their own the next trip down and went ahead on a layup from Obukwelu with two minutes to go.
 
Scott hit one of two free throws the next trip down to get the Lions within one (71-70) with a minute to go and stole a pass on the next possession, leading to a fast-break layup to give Southern a 72-71 lead with 35 seconds to go.
 
NSU had a chance to go ahead late, but missed free throws gave the Lions back the ball and sealed the win.
 
The Lions shot 47 percent from the field and 45 percent from long-range. Southern forced 15 turnovers and scored 16 points off the miscues.
 
MSSU will be back in action on Thursday as the Lions play host to Washburn. Tip off from inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is set for 7:30 pm.