Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern men's basketball team played just one game this week, hosting the Pittsburg State Gorillas. On Saturday afternoon, the Lions beat the Gorillas for the second time this season, winning by a score of 75-72. That win ended PSU's six-game win streak and makes Missouri Southern 12-12 (10-8 MIAA). The Lions also ended a PSU five game win streak earlier this year when MSSU won 81-74 in Pittsburg.

The first basket of the game was recorded by Vinson Sigmon Jr., scoring a layup on a feed from Martin Macenis. Darius Dawson then made a layup to give MSSU a 4-0 start. A pair of free throws by Macenis and another jumper from Dawson made it 8-2 early on. 

Just past the halfway point in the first half, Parker Long scored a layup on another dish from Macenis to put the Lions ahead 16-13. Dawson made another couple of baskets, but PSU was right there as well. With a little over six minutes left, Long drained a three, then Lawson Jenkins made a bucket to extend MSSU's lead to nine. The Gorillas narrowed that deficit to two, but Avery Taggart made a three and Martin Macenis hit two free throws before the break to make it 36-29 at the half. 

Pittsburg State came out of the break hot, erasing their deficit and taking a four point lead. The Lions then scored eight straight on points from Martin Macenis, Vinson Sigmon Jr., and Darius Dawson. MSSU held onto a narrow lead until the 8:18 mark when the Gorillas took a one point lead.

Darius Dawson got the lead back with an and-one play and Avery Taggart hit a jumper. Again, the Gorillas responded to even the score at 66, 68, and 70. The guests took a two point lead with just over a minute left, but Parker Long scored two big baskets to erase the deficit and put Southern ahead by two. PSU had an opportunity to tie the game with free throws, but a miss on the first shot forced the Gorillas to attempt something different. On the second attempt, the shooter stepped over the line and caused a turnover with a lane violation. Martin Macenis made a free throw in the final seconds to end it 75-72. 

Darius Dawson led the team with 18 points on 6-8 shooting from the field, 6-7 from the free throw line, and had 7 rebounds. Vinson Sigmon Jr., Martin Macenis, and Avery Taggart each recorded 13 points, and Parker Long had 11 to round out the double-digit scorers for southern. Long also led the team with 9 rebounds and 4 assists.

The team will head to Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State for their final road series of the regular season. They'll play the Lopers on Thursday, February 22 at 7:30pm and the Tigers on Saturday, February 24 at 4:00pm. 

The Missouri Southern men's basketball season is presented by Arvest Bank, a proud supporter of Lion Athletics.
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