Edmond, Okla. – A 12-2 run early in the first half helped propel the Missouri Southern men's basketball team to a 56-50 upset of No. 6 ranked and previously undefeated Central Oklahoma tonight inside Hamilton Fieldhouse in Edmond.
 
Southern (5-4, 1-2 MIAA) was led by Winston Dessesow as he scored 14 points and added five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. Vinson Sigmon Jr. had 12 points and six boards, while Ndongo Ndaw had 11 points and 11 rebounds. Christian Bundy scored nine points and pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds, as well.
 
UCO (7-1, 2-1 MIAA) had two score in double-figures, led by 14 points from Jaden Wells and 12 from Cam Givens.
 
The two teams answered each other's shots early on and the game was tied at seven three minutes into the action. From that point, the Lions went on a 12-2 run and led 19-9 after a jumper from Sigmon with 13:47 left go in the half.
 
A jumper from Ndaw with 6:30 to go in the half put the Lions up 28-19 and back-to-back three's from Dessesow, the second with 1:19 left in the half put the Lions up 34-22. A late bucket from Ndaw made the halftime score 36-22.
 
Southern forced 11 turnovers in the half and had a 23-19 advantage on the boards.
 
A put back from Tyriqe Jackson put the Lions up 11 (39-28) with 16 minutes to go in the second half and a bucket from Dessesow with nine minutes to go gave the Lions a 43-31 lead. A jumper from Dessesow, this time with 5:54 left stopped a 7-0 run from the Bronchos and gave the Lions a 45-39 lead and a bucket from Ndaw with 3:14 to play pushed the Lions' lead back to nine (48-39).
 
A pair of free throws from Bundy with 53 seconds to go pushed the Lions' lead to eight (54-46) and a dunk from Bundy late proved to be the equalizer and final tally of the game.
 
In a defensive struggle, the Lions out-paced the Bronchos 51-43 on the boards and outshot UCO hitting 30 percent to the Bronchos 28. Southern held UCO to just 10 percent from long-range on the night.
 
The Lions will be back at it on Saturday as Southern travels to Newman to take on the Jets. Tip off from Fugate Gymnasium is set for 3:30 pm.