Hot-shooting Missouri Western downs Lions

Box Score

After missing his first two field goal tries of the game, Bolds finished by hitting 10 of his final 11 en route to 27 points in an 80-63 victory over the Lions Saturday (Jan. 28) at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

Missouri Western led 45-37 at halftime and the Lions kept their guests close early in the second. But after Southern closed to within seven 1:43 into the second half, Bolds and classmate Jason Warren combined for 17 points in a 20-5 MWSU run that broke the game open.

Western led 69-47 with 10:38 to play, and the Lions never got closer than 14 the rest of the way.

Both teams shot the ball well in the opening half. Missouri Southern made 15-of-29 (51.7 percent) but the Griffons were even hotter, making 19-of-32 (59.4 percent). Southern's shooting percentage went south in the second half, while MWSU kept the pressure on by converting 12-of-22 shots (54.5 percent).

Southern started the game by outscoring the Griffons 12-6 in the first five-plus minutes. The Lions led by eight points, 29-21, with 8:24 left before halftime, but Bolds contributed all 11 of his first-points during a 24-8 burst over the final eight minutes.

In addition to Bolds' 27 points, Warren finished with a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds. J.R. Reed added 13 points, all in the first period, for Missouri Western (13-7, 4-5 MIAA).

Southern (10-10, 3-6 MIAA) was led by 13 points from senior Quentin Edwards and 10 from senior Dan Jones.

The Lions came in one of the top rebounding teams in the MIAA, leading the conference in rebounding margin. However, Western outshined MSSU on the glass, winning the rebound battle 35-25.