Lions bounce back for victory Saturday in Classic

Friday MSSU Box Score | Saturday MSSU Box Score

The Lions (3-2) used a 19-2 run over a near five-minute stretch in the first half to seize control. Senior guard Quentin Edwards scored 10 of his game-high 21 points during the burst that saw Southern ultimately lead by as many as 21 points. Bemidji State (2-3), shooting only 34 percent for the game and just 15.4 percent from three-point range, could only climb back to within 10 points over the remainder of the contest.

Junior transfers Ed Miles and Myron Hodge were also key to the Lions' quick start. Miles had nine first-half points to go with five rebounds. Hodge had five points and six boards en route to a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds.

The Beavers ended the first half on a 12-3 run to close the gap to 43-31 at intermission. MSSU would push the lead back to 19 points, 58-39, five minutes into the second half.

Bemidji managed to keep it manageable until the final three minutes. The Lions led 66-55 with 3:21 to play, but Edwards scored six of Southern's last eight points.

Behind Edwards' 21 points and Hodge's double-double for Southern, two more scored in double figures. Senior Dan Jones scored 14 points and added six rebounds. Miles charted 13 points and seven boards. Sophomore Tyler Ryerson matched his career high with 11 assists.

Bemidji State was led by 16 points and 14 rebounds (10 offensive) for Spencer Carter. Manuel Guzman added eight points.

In earlier action Saturday, Missouri Baptist (7-3) defeated Pittsburg State 75-69. Franklin Penn scored 30 of his game-high 37 points in the second half for the Spartans. Pitt State (0-5) was led by 16 points from Eddie Jackson.

Friday's action included a 71-66 Bemidji State victory over PSU, while the Lions lost 84-73 to Missouri Baptist. The Spartans shot 68 percent in the second half of that win, overcoming a 45-38 MSSU lead at halftime. For the game, MBU made 11-of-20 three-point goals as Joe Rothweiler scored 32 points. Alonzo Franklin added 20 points and Penn finished with 11 points and 12 assists.

Missouri Baptist opened the second half against the Lions with a 20-0 run that was aided by seven of MSSU's 10 second-half turnovers.

In Bemidji State's win over Pittsburg State, Stacy Pearson-Taylor had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Beavers. Jackson led all scorers with 24 points, but was the Gorillas' only representative in double figures.