Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Men's Basketball team hosted their home opener against the Ozark Christian College Ambassadors. The Lions would surge and take the lead in the early minutes and hold the advantage for the entire game. Southern pushed a triple-digit final score, highlighted by a 21-point finish from Martin Macenis, rebounds by Tyrone Wright, and five dunks.
 
Missouri Southern (1-2) | Ozark Christian (2-1)
Half 1: Missouri Southern 56 | Ozark Christian 32
The Lions began the home opener with seven unanswered points, five points from Martin Macenis and a layup from Tyrone Wright. Jamari Lawrence subbed into the game with 13:31 remaining in the first half and drilled back-to-back threes to grow the Lions lead to 29-12. Isaiah Atwater responded with two consecutive three-pointers, increasing the Lions lead to 38-20 with 9:18 left in the first half. 
 
The Lions continued to control both ends of the floor as five straight points from Tyriqe Jackson gave the Lions a 15-point lead with under three minutes remaining in the first half. The half would come to a close as the Lions posted their highest-scoring half of the season, 56-32.
 
Half 2: Missouri Southern 69 | Ozark Christian 76
The Ambassadors began the second half on a 7-0 run, but the Lions quickly responded with five points from Tyrique Brooks off two free throws and a three-pointer. Both teams traded baskets through the first 10 minutes of the second half, and with 10:05 remaining in the game, the Lions led the Ambassadors 84-61.
 
The following three minutes was a defensive battle with low scoring for both teams, but the Lions quickly turned it around off a three from Tyriqe Jackson and a layup from Isaiah Atwater to make the Lions lead 92-67 with 6:16 remaining. After a back-and-forth scoring runs, Southern took control with a thrilling eight-point surge, highlighted by back-to-back, rim-rattling dunks. Ibn Loyal ignited the run with a powerful block, quickly turning it into an emphatic dunk at the other end. Moments later, Atwater stole the ball and finished with a breakaway slam, pushing Southern's lead to 30 points, 105-77. By the final buzzer, Missouri Southern defeated Ozark Christians with a 109-70 victory.
 
Missouri Southern Leaders:
Scoring Leader: Martin Macenis – 21
Rebounding Leader: Tyrone Wright – 10
Assist Leader: Jaden Tayor / Isaiah Atwater - 5
Steal Leader: Isaiah Atwater - 3
 
Ozark Christian Leaders:
Scoring Leader: Micah Colburn – 22
Rebounding Leader: Andre Johnson / Danny Foster – 5
Assist Leader: Andre Johnson – 4
Steal Leader: Micah Colburn – 2
 
Up Next:
The Lions will be on the road on Saturday, November 16, when they travel to take on the Quincy University Hawks at the Pepsi Arena in Quincy, Ill. Tip-off is set for 6:00 pm.
  Read Full Article