KANSAS CITY, Mo. — No. 7 seeded Missouri Southern men's basketball (17-12) defeated No. 10 seed Northwest Missouri (15-16) 91-85 in a closely contested 2026 MIAA Basketball Championships opening round matchup Wednesday night at Municipal Auditorium.
With the victory, the Lions advance to face No. 2 seeded Central Missouri in the Quarterfinals on Thursday. Tip-off for MSSU's second game at the 2026 MIAA Basketball Championships is set for 8:15 p.m., CT Thursday.
MSSU held a narrow 47-44 lead at halftime and maintained its edge with a strong inside presence, scoring 42 points in the paint. NWMSU kept the game tight with 12 three-pointers but ultimately fell short.
The Lions now hold a record of 17-12 overall. Northwest Missouri moves to 15-16 overall.
Gavyn Elkamil led the scoring for Missouri Southern with a career-best matching 22 points, including four 3-pointers, and collected seven rebounds.
Tyrone Wright Jr. matched Elkamil's scoring total with a personal-high matching 22 points and dominated the boards with 14 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the campaign.
Jaden Taylor contributed 16 points, converting eight of nine free throws.
Isaiah Atwater added 10 points, making three 3-pointers and recording two steals.
Colin Ruffin added 12 points (4-for-7) with two rebounds, three assists and a steal.
The game commenced with MSSU quickly responding to an early 3-pointer by NWMSU. Wright Jr.'s dunk at 19:06 set the tone for the team's aggressive play. Missouri Southern built momentum with effective scoring in the paint, notably from Wright Jr., who contributed significantly with both layups and crucial rebounds.
Despite some defensive pressure from the Bearcats, the Lions maintained their lead through strategic ball movement and timely scoring, including key 3-pointers by Elkamil and Atwater. As the half progressed, MSSU capitalized on turnovers and free throws to keep the score close.
Brayden Williams closed the half, assisting on a fastbreak layup to Wright Jr., securing a 47–44 lead for Southern at halftime.
Missouri Southern opened the second half with a notable scoring run, highlighted by
Colin Ruffin's layup at 17:02, briefly giving the Lions the lead at 49-47. The score remained close as both teams exchanged baskets, with key contributions from Elkamil, who completed a three-point play at 16:25 to push the lead to 52-49.
In the latter stages, the Lions maintained their momentum through consistent scoring from the paint, including Wright Jr.'s dunk at 8:23, extending the lead to 70-64. Tight defense and effective rebounding were crucial as Southern closed the second half strongly. Taylor's free throws at 1:33 helped secure an 87-83 advantage, and Ruffin's layup with 41 seconds remaining ensured a 91-85 victory by the game's end.
Wednesday marked MSSU's first MIAA Basketball Championship tournament win since March 1, 2023 (70-60 First Round Win over Northeastern State). MSSU is now 26-28 at the MIAA Basketball Championship Tournament (3-1 in first round).
The seventh seeded Lions next face No. 2 seeded Central Missouri in the Quarterfinals on Thursday. Tip-off for MSSU's second game at the 2026 MIAA Basketball Championships is set for 8:15 p.m., CT Thursday.
