Kearney, Neb. - The Missouri Southern men's basketball program ended their road trip with a commanding 75-65 win over Nebraska - Kearney inside the Health & Sports Center for the sixth straight win in conference action.
The Lions (10-4, 6-2 MIAA) were led by
Vinson Sigmon Jr. with a career-high 23 points going 10-of-15 from the field while adding four rebounds and assists.
Winston Dessesow and
Christian Bundy had 11 points each with Bundy coming away with eight rebounds.
Avery Taggart had 10 points with team-highs with nine rebounds and six assists.
Sam Thompson led the bench effort with seven points and four rebounds to go with a block.
The Lopers (3-12, 1-8 MIAA) were led by Darrian Nebeker with 15 points, six assists and five rebounds. Winston Cooke led all bench scoreres with 14 and added a team-high seven rebounds. Jaleque Dunson was the other Loper to reach double figures with 11.
Southern held the advantage over Nebraska – Kearney in field goal percentage 53.4-42.6, three point percentage 38.1-37.0, free throws made 5-3, free throw percentage 71.4-50.0, rebounds 40-15, offensive rebounds 11-8, defensive rebounds 29-17, assists 17-16, steals 2-1, blocks 2-1, bench points 17-16, points in the paint 34-28 and second chance points 8-7 while having a lead for 25:33.
In the first half the Lions got back-to-back scores to begin the half before a 8-4 run by the Lopers tied it 8-8 with 16:14 left. Over the next six minutes it was fairly even between the two programs but the Lions had a 20-19 lead thanks to a Sigmon Jr. layup at 10:15.
Over the next five plus minutes, Nebraska – Kearney would use a 8-4 run capped off by a Cook layup to take a 27-24 lead with 4:31 left in the first half. The final four minutes of the half saw only one missed shot between the two teams as the Lopers held a 39-34 advantage heading into the half.
Southern came out of the half on a 14-4 run capped off by back-to-back jumpers by Sigmon Jr. to make it a 48-43 lead with 15:30 left. The Lions would go on a 15-4 run later in the half to stretch the lead to 11 (67-56) with 4:50 left following a Bundy layup with Taggart picking up his fifth assist of the game and would coast to a 75-65 win to close the road trip.
Up next for the Lions will be Washburn (5-8, 2-5 MIAA) on Thursday and #20 Emporia State (12-3, 6-3 MIAA) on Saturday next week. Both games will be at home with tip off from the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center set for 7:30pm against the Ichabods and 3:30pm against the Hornets.
Career Rankings Update
Winston Dessesow – Became the 37
th Lion in program history to score 800 career points needing 78 games to do so.
Sam McMahon – Tied a program record for fewest games needed for a first year head coach to win their 10
th game, Frank Davis in 1968-69 also needed 14 games to reach 10 wins. With a win next time out against Washburn it will mark the best start for a first year head coach in their first 15 games in charge of the Green and Gold with coaches Frank Davis (68-69), Chuck Williams (77-78) and Jeff Boschee (14-15) all going 10-5 in their first 15 games in charge.
