Lions move to 6-2 with win over Hannibal-LaGrange

Box Score

After leading by seven at halftime, Missouri Southern (6-3) trailed by as many as seven in the second half, but had the score tied at 66-66 with 1:28 to play when senior Quentin Edwards hit the first of two free throws. Thirty-six seconds later, Edwards was back at the line and again hit 1-of-2 to make it a 68-66 MSSU lead.

Sophomore Tyler Ryerson was whistled for a foul with 32 seconds left and that send NSU's Lamont George to the charity stripe, where he made the second of two foul shots. But four seconds later, Ryerson was charged with his third personal foul, sending Redmen guard Sid Melvin to the line. Melvin made the first of two, but center Pat Moore snagged the rebound on the second and George knocked down a three-pointer with 25 seconds to go. That made it 71-68 in NSU's favor.

Myron Hodge scored with 11 seconds left after an Edwards missed three-pointer, but Ty Merchant made his two foul shots to push it back to three points. Hodge missed a potential tying three-point try with three seconds to go as the Lions lost for the ninth time in 10 trips to Tahlequah.

The two teams traded leads in the first half as Southern scored the game's first six points. NSU (6-2) would lead by as many as seven in the first half. However, the Redmen did not hit a field goal over the final 11:31 of the first half as the Lions used a 14-0 run to take a 30-23 lead into the break. NSU missed its last 12 shots of the first half and had five turnovers.

Edwards scored six points during the 14-0 burst to lift the Lions.

Southern held a 35-27 lead 2:25 into the second half, before the Redmen went on a 16-4 run to take a lead they wouldn't relinquish until the final two minutes. Hodge scored eight points in the last 5:24 of the game as MSSU overcame a 58-51 NSU lead with 7:32 left.

All five starters scored in double figures for Missouri Southern, which was led by 13 apiece from senior Dan Jones and sophomore Tyler Ryerson. Hodge ended the game with 12 points, while Ed Miles and Edwards both had 10. Edwards finished with nine rebounds and five assists. Ryerson had seven assists for the game.

Northeastern State was led by 22 points, 14 in the second half, from Melvin. Derrick White charted 17, with 13 of those coming after halftime. Bret Rubin added 12 points (nine in the second half) and Pat Moore had a double-double with 10 points and 12 boards.