Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern men's basketball team had four score in double-figures including three with 17 each as the Lions held on to defeat Missouri Western 78-68 tonight on Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
 
Southern (13-9, 10-6 MIAA) got 17 points each from Christian Bundy, Stan Scott and Avery Taggart. Winston Dessesow scored ten points, while Alex Jones had five points and five assists.

With the win, Head Coach Jeff Boschee has now won 150 games in his career in the Green and Gold. 
 
Western (10-13, 6-9 MIAA) was led by 21 points from Will Eames.
 
The two teams traded points early on in the first half, before five-straight points by the Lions capped by a jumper from Taggart in the paint gave Southern an 11-6 lead with 13 minutes left in the first half.
 
Western led by four points after a pair of free throws from Taye Fields gave the Griffons a 20-16 lead with 5:34 to go, but a 12-0 run from the Lions capped by a three from Taggart with 1:40 to go in the half pushed the Southern lead to eight at 28-20. The Lions took a 30-23 lead into the locker room at the break.
 
A three from Scott just two minutes into the second half pushed the Lions' lead to 14 (40-26) and a layup from RJ Smith with 14:52 on the clock kept the lead at 14 (48-34).
 
Western cut the lead to three (60-57) after a three from Eames with six minutes to go, but a jumper from Smith four minutes later extended the Southern lead back to ten (72-62). The Lions made their free throws down the stretch to secure the win.
 
Southern shot 56 percent from the field in the game and 88 percent from the free throw line. The Lions forced 16 Griffons' turnovers and scored 20 points off the miscues.
 
Southern will be back in action on Saturday afternoon as the Lions play host to second-ranked Northwest Missouri. Tip off from the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is set for 3:30 pm.