Edmond, Okla. – The Missouri Southern men's basketball team led by two at halftime and made 18 three's on the afternoon, but the Lions fell 95-76 on the road at Central Oklahoma today.
 
Southern (14-14, 11-11 MIAA) will be the sixth seed in next week's MIAA Tournament, facing off against the No. 3 seed Fort Hays State Tigers at 8:15 pm on Friday, March 4 from historic Municipal Auditorium.
 
Lawson Jenkins led the scoring attack with 18 points on 6-of-11 from the three-point line while Avery Taggart added 16 points on 6-of-18 from the field and 4-of-12 from long-range. Taggart added six assists and two steals. Lawson Jenkins scored 18 points on 6-of-11 from the three-point line, while Stan Scott scored 14 and Winston Dessesow added 12.
 
The 18 three's are the most since the 2019-20 season against Rogers State (2-1-20) where they went 18-for-34. Southern also tied a school record for attempted threes of 42 when they played Baptist Bible on 11-29-18.
 
UCO (23-5, 18-4 MIAA) had five score in double-figures, led by 18 points from Jaden Wells. The Bronchos claimed the No. 1 seed in the MIAA Tournament with the win and a share of the MIAA Regular-Season Championship.
 
A three from Christian Bundy with 16:26 left on the clock gave the Lions an 11-8 lead early on and a three from Dessesow with 14-20 on the clock made the score 16-12, Lions. UCO answered back and led 26-18 with nine minutes left in the half, before the Lions went on a 12-4 run to lead 32-30 after a three from Jenkins with 3:14 left.
 
A dunk from RJ Smith as time expired gave the Lions a 39-37 lead at the break.
 
The Bronchos tied the game at 41 with 18:41 left, but a three from Dessesow off an assist from Taggart had the Lions leading 46-43 with 17:38 on the clock. Another three from Dessesow with 17 minutes left pushed the lead to five (49-44) and a three from Taggart with 14:35 left gave the Lions a 56-52 lead.
 
UCO went ahead 57-56 with 13:42 left and a layup from Scott put the Lions back up 58-57, but that would be the last lead Southern saw.
 
The Lions shot 42 percent from the field and 43 percent from long range. There were 11 lead changes in the game and the Lions assisted on 19 of the 28 made baskets.
 
Southern will be in action on Friday night as the Lions will take on the No. 3 seed Fort Hays State Tigers at 8:15 pm in the MIAA Tournament.