Ed Miles (Dallas, Texas) got the Lions off to a red-hot start by scoring nine quick points out of the gate as the Lions jumped ahead 13-8 with 14:00 left in the first half.

The Lions (9-14, 4-11 MIAA) hung around and led 25-24 with 5:35 remaining in the opening half before the Mules really began to assert themselves.  The Mules finished the first half on a 15-4 run behind six points from Wright.

Miles finished with 11 in the first half on 5-of-8 shooting, while Wright led three Mules (21-2, 12-2 MIAA) in double-figures in the opening stanza.

Central charged out of the locker room in the second half and opened up a 17 point advantage at 52-35 that was capped by a layup by Wadale Williams with 15:47 left in the game.  Wright put in a three and a three-point play to key the Mules run.

After a pair of Dale Hunter (Joplin, Mo.) free throws pulled the Lions with 57-46 with 12:45 left, the Mules extended the lead to 20 with a 10-1 run to go ahead 67-47 with 10:47 left.

The closest the Lions came from that point was 18. 

Miles led four Lions in double-figures with 13.  T.J. Britton (Poplar Bluff, Mo.) scored 12 and pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds.  Hunter scored 11 and Deonte Cox (St. Louis, Mo.) added 10.

Wright led all scorers with his 24 point total and also posted a team-high eight boards for the Mules.

Southern will be back on the road this Saturday, February 17 when they travel to Northwest Missouri for a 3:30 pm start.