Southern (16-8, 6-8 MIAA) was led in scoring by Skyler Bowlin with 23 points. He added four assists, four rebounds and three steals. Jason Adams had 15 points off the bench, while Mariun Price scored 13 and added six assists. DaRell Crittendon had nine points and eight rebounds.

Western (10-12, 7-8 MIAA) led by seven at the half and the Griffons were had two 20-point scorers in Lonnell Johnson (25) and Dominique Thuston (22).

The Griffs scored the game's first ten points before a three from Adams stopped the run. Western, however, scored the next four points to lead 17-3 at the 14 minute mark of the first half. The Lions turned around and went on a 17-9 run of their own to cut the Western lead to 26-20 at the eight minute mark. The lead was 42-35 at the half.

The Griffs led by 16 with nine minutes to go in the game (69-53), but the Lions cut the lead to seven after a layup from Vincent Ateba made the score 69-62 and capped a 9-0 Southern run. The Western lead grew to as much as 18 with two minutes to go.

MWSU led the entire game and shot 58 percent from the field. Southern shot 44 percent from the field and out rebounded the Griffs 37-35. The Lions forced 21 Western turnovers.

Southern will be back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 11 when the Lions travel to Pittsburg State to take on the Gorillas in a 7:30 pm tip. The Lions defeated Pitt 88-76 in the team's first meeting this year in Joplin.