FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2007


Hot shooting night helps lift Lions over visiting Fort Hays State, 86-80

Box Score

Joplin, Mo. -  A double-double from Tyler Ryerson (Willard, Mo.) sparked six Lions in double-figures and Missouri Southern defeated visiting Fort Hays State 86-80 at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center tonight.

Southern (7-9, 2-5 MIAA) snapped a five-game losing streak to the Tigers (8-9, 1-7 MIAA) with the win. The win also moves the Lions into seventh place, a half game in front of Missouri Western, in the MIAA standings.

The Lions, as well as Hays, started the game on fire with Southern draining it's first four shots and the Tigers making their first six. Southern held a slim three point advantage (24-21) with 12:39 left in the half, but a three from Daniel Hurst (Hot Springs, Ark.) pushed the lead to six. A jumper from Stanley Titsworth (Muskogee, Okla.) would extend the lead to eight and a three from the junior gave Southern its largest lead of the night at 11 (37-26) five and a half to play. The Lions went into the locker room up by four.

Both teams shot lights out in the first half with the Lions posting a 69 percent showing and the Tigers at 67 percent. With so few misses, rebounds stood at 9-8, Southern at the half.

Two free-throws from the Tigers' Loranja Owens tied the game at 59 with 13 minutes left. The game would be tied twice more, the last with four minutes left at 74-74, but two free throws from Deonte Cox (St. Louis, Mo.) gave the Lions a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Ryerson finished with 10 points and 12 assists for his first double-double of the year. The 12 assists are one off his career-high and three off the single-game record of 15 set by Eddin Santiago against Northwest Missouri in 2000. Titsworth led the Lions with 18 points and seven assists, while TJ Britton added 14 points and five boards. Cox and Ed Miles scored 12 and 13 points, respectively, while Matt Habermehl went 4-9 from the field, scoring 11 points with 8 boards.

The Lions out rebounded Fort Hays 32-22 and had a season high 26 assists. They shot 54 percent from the field and 43 percent from the three point line.

Anthony Grant led five in double figures for the Tigers with 22 points.

Southern will be back in action Monday night when they travel to Bolivar to make up the game from last weekend with Southwest Baptist. Game time is slated for 7:45 pm.