Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern men's basketball team started their final road series of the regular season Thursday evening, taking on the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers for the second time this season. The Lions took control early and never looked back, securing a 73-55 victory to improve to 13-12 (11-8 MIAA) on the year. Additionally, the team has officially punched their ticket to the MIAA Tournament, but seeding has yet to be determined.
The first basket of the game went to
Martin Macenis, converting a jumper about a minute and a half into the contest. Another minute passed before the next points were scored, going to the Lopers. Macenis then completed an and-one opportunity, and later another jumper to give MSSU the lead for what would be the remainder of the game.
Darius Dawson and
Avery Taggart got in on the scoring, making it a 16-14 Southern lead midway through the first.
After a quiet couple of minutes offensively,
Vinson Sigmon Jr. hit a couple baskets to boost the Lion lead. That lead continued to grow for a bit, then UNK cut it down to five with 4:16 left in the period.
Darius Dawson then hit a jumper and Sigmon Jr. scored another pair of baskets, boosting that lead to 11. At the half, the Lions led 37-27.
Darius Dawson went on a 6-0 himself to start the second half, then
Vinson Sigmon Jr. added three to make it a 9-0 Southern run to kick things off after the break. The lead kept growing throughout the period, as
Martin Macenis scored a bucket and
Lawson Jenkins made a free throw to make it a 20-point differential with less than 10 minutes to go. For the remainder of the game, the Lions held a similar lead which led to a 73-55 final score.
Darius Dawson scored his third double-double of the season, dropping 22 points on 9-14 shooting from the field with 10 rebounds.
Martin Macenis scored 18 points on 6-9 shooting from the field and 6-6 from the free throw line, grabbing 6 rebounds as well.
Vinson Sigmon Jr. added 15 points with 6 rebounds, a team-high 4 steals, and 2 assists.
Avery Taggart finished with 6 assists, 4 rebounds, and 6 points, now just 3 shy of 1,000 in his career.
The team will stay out west, taking on the Fort Hays State Tigers on Saturday, February 24 with a 4:00pm start time.
The Missouri Southern men's basketball season is presented by Arvest Bank, a proud supporter of Lion Athletics.
