Lions win in a rout over St. Joseph (Vt.)

PITTSBURG, Kan. -- Missouri Southern ended the first half on a 25-5 run and then pulled away for a blowout win, 87-36, over St. Joseph (Vt.) in the opening game of the Pittsburg State Pepsi/The Morning Sun Classic.

The Lions (5-2) clung to a slim 12-10 lead after a sluggish start but St. Joseph made only two field goals over the final 10:38 of the first half. Meanwhile, Southern forced 12 turnovers and rushed to a 37-15 halftime lead.

The second half didn't get much better for the Fighting Saints (2-6), who went nearly nine minutes without a field goal. MSSU led by 41 midway through the second half and held an advantage that grew as large as 54 points.

Southern forced 34 turnovers for the game and limited the Saints to 25.5 percent shooting. The Lions, who made 54.2 percent of their shots, connected on better than 50 percent for the fifth straight game. MSSU also outrebounded St. Joseph 42-30.

Senior guard Quentin Edwards made 5-of-8 from the floor and finished with a game-high 17 points. Sophomore guard Daron Harris added a career-high 16 points, on 6-of-12 shooting. Junior Myron Hodge would finish with 10. Sophomore point guard Tyler Ryerson, the MIAA assist leader at 9.3 per game coming in, did little to hurt that average, collecting nine more helpers. He also added four steals.

CSJ was led by Jarred Henry, who finished with 12 points as the team's lone scorer in double figures.

Missouri Southern continues action in the classic on Saturday (Dec. 3) with 5 p.m. game against Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.).