JOPLIN, Mo. — Missouri Southern men's basketball (15-10, 9-7 MIAA) secured a narrow 64-60 victory over Fort Hays State (17-9, 9-8 MIAA) Thursday night at Robert Ellis Young Gymnasium.
Southern overcame a six-point halftime deficit by outscoring Fort Hays State 40-30 in the second half. The Lions capitalized on Fort Hays State's turnovers, converting them into 14 points. Both teams exchanged the lead 13 times, highlighting the competitive nature of the match.
MSSU now holds a record of 15-10 overall and 9-7 mark in MIAA play. The Lions' 15 wins are its highest since the 2022-23 campaign when Southern registered 17. Fort Hays State stands at 17-9 overall with a 9-8 record in league competition.
Isaiah Atwater scored 13 points, including three 3-pointers, and recorded two steals.
Jaden Taylor added a team-high 14 points, making 6 of 7 free throws, and collected six rebounds.
Colin Ruffin contributed nine points and secured nine rebounds while dishing out three assists.
Tyrone Wright Jr. posted 10 points and gathered nine rebounds, with one block.
Hunter Fitch added 12 points with six rebounds.
The game started with MSSU and FHSU exchanging early baskets. Southern struggled initially, falling behind 7–0, but Atwater's three-pointer at 13:21 helped narrow the gap to 14–9. Fitch contributed significantly off the bench, hitting a three-pointer and converting an offensive rebound into a layup to tie the game at 14-14 with 11:29 remaining in the opening half.
Despite closing the gap, Missouri Southern faced challenges containing Fort Hays State's outside shooting, with Kyle Grill making a notable impact from beyond the arc. The Lions capitalized on turnovers, with
Gavyn Elkamil and Ruffin making timely steals, yet the Tigers maintained their lead by the end of the half. The half concluded with FHSU ahead 30–24.
MSSU started the second half with a determined effort to close the gap against FHSU. Elkamil sparked momentum with an early 3-pointer, and Ruffin contributed significantly with a series of successful layups and a three-pointer, keeping the score tight. Southern's strong rebounding, led by Wright Jr., enabled second-chance points and helped tie the score multiple times, including a crucial layup by Taylor to take a brief lead.
Southern gained momentum midway through the second half with a pivotal 3-pointer by Atwater at 7:46, giving the Lions a 50–48 edge. Wright Jr. contributed a critical dunk at 7:14, solidifying the Lions' lead. Down the stretch, Taylor sank crucial free throws with 45 seconds remaining to edge the Lions ahead. The Tigers missed a potential game-tying jumper, and Atwater secured the win with two free throws ahead of the buzzer. The second half concluded with the Lions outscoring the Tigers 40-30, resulting in a 64-60 MSSU victory.
The Lions next face Nebraska Kearney for Senior Day Saturday. Southern will recognize seniors
Jaden Taylor,
Tyrone Wright Jr., and
Prince Agbaeze prior to tipoff.
