Kearney, Neb. – The Missouri Southern men's basketball team had a strong second half and had 20-plus points from both Stan Scott and Christian Bundy who led the Lions over Nebraska-Kearney, 87-75 inside the Health and Sport Center.
 
Southern (9-7, 6-4 MIAA) was led by Scott with 25 points on 11-of-22 from the field and a career-high 17 rebounds. Scott also dished out three assists and had three steals and a block. Bundy scored 22 on 10-of-12 from the field, while Avery Taggart had 17 points on 4-of-6 from long range and a career-high seven assists.
 
UNK (7-11, 3-9 MIAA) had three score in double-figures led by David Simental and Austin Luger who scored 19 points each.
 
Southern got on the board first with a bucket from Scott just a minute into the half, but the Lopers led 11-7 after a three from Austin Luger with 14:40 to go. A dunk from Bundy with 12:14 on the clock gave the Lions a 14-13 lead, while a layup from Scott and a bucket from Bundy the next two trips down made the Southern lead 18-13 with just under 11 minutes remaining and forced a Lopers' timeout.
 
A bucket from Taggart with eight to go pushed the lead to eight (25-17), while a steal and a dunk from Scott the next trip down pushed the lead to ten (27-17). A layup from Bundy at the five-minute mark gave the Lions a 31-23 lead, but the Lopers got within one (32-31) before a jumper from Scott extended the lead back to three with 3:29 left. Alex Jones hit a three with 19 seconds to go and a late bucket from the Lopers made the halftime score 37-35, Southern.
 
Three-straight possessions for the Lions with three-pointers, two of which came from Taggart pushed the Southern lead to nine (50-41) and forced a timeout for the Lopers with 15 minutes to go. Another three from Taggart gave the Lions a 53-42 lead with 14 minutes left, while a three from Winston Dessesow with 10:39 extended the Southern lead to 64-48.
 
A three from Scott with 6:14 on the clock pushed the lead to 16 (77-61), while a dunk from Bundy with 2:29 to go made the score 83-72 and another bucket from Bundy gave the Lions an 85-72 lead with a minute to go.
 
The Lions shot 52 percent from the field and 65 percent from long-range. Southern had a 41-27 advantage on the boards, including 12 offensive rebounds that led to 11 points. The Lions had a 44-22 advantage in the point and held the lead for 33 minutes in the game.
 
Southern will be back in action on Wednesday night when the Lions play host to Rogers State. Tip off from the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is set for 7:30 pm.