Southern (16-5, 6-5, MIAA) was led in scoring from Bowlin's 13 points. He went 5-10 from the field and added four assists. DaRell Crittendon scored nine, while Jason Adams scored eight.

Truman (6-12, 1-10 MIAA) was led by 15 points from Alex Henderson and 14 from Ethan Freeman.

Southern opened up a huge first half advantage, leading 17-7 at the 12 minute mark after a jumper from Skyler Bowlin. The lead grew to 18 after a three from Adams made the score 34-16 with 1:29 left in the half. Truman would close the half on a 4-0 run to make the score 34-20 at the break.

Bowlin and Crittendon had seven points each for Southern in the first half as ten different Lions scored in the half.

The Bulldogs opened the half on a 23-12 run as the Lions were just 4-20 from the field at the four minute mark when a three from Henderson made the score 45-43.

A jumper from Bowlin the next trip down gave the Lions a five point lead and the Lions forced a shot-clock violation on the Bulldogs' ensuing possession. A three from Adams on the next trip down made the score 51-43 and forced a Truman timeout.

A three from Henderson cut the Lions' lead to 51-48 with 1:07 left to go in the game. A pair of free-throws pushed the Southern lead back to five (53-48) with 38 seconds to go, however a three the next trip down the court from Truman's Todd Kulage cut the lead to two (53-51).

Bowlin split a pair of freebies to push the lead back to three and the Bulldogs turned the ball over on their next possession. A free-throw from Bowlin gave the Lions a 55-51 lead and another Truman turnover gave Southern back the ball with five seconds left. Two free-throws from Adams iced the game and gave the Lions the 57-51 win.

The Lions shot 43 percent from the field in the game. Both teams had 18 turnovers and the Lions scored 24 points off the miscues.

Southern will be back in action this Wednesday, January 28 when the Lions travel to Warrensburg to take on Central Missouri in a 7:30 pm tip. The Lions defeated the Mules 71-70 earlier in the year at Joplin coming back from 14 down with three minutes left in the game.