FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2009

Lions erase 23-point deficit and win 77-71 over Emporia State

 Box Score

Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern basketball team erased a 23-point deficit five minutes into the second half and outscored Emporia State 49-20 from that point and defeated the Hornets 77-71 tonight in the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center in Joplin.

Southern (17-9, 7-9 MIAA) stopped a four-game losing streak with the win. Jason Adams led four Lions in double-figures with 22 points on 7-12 shooting and 8-8 from the free-throw line. He added seven rebounds, a block and a steal. Skyler Bowlin scored 16 and added three assists and three steals, while Mariun Price and Matt Monroe scored ten each.

Emporia (15-9, 9-8 MIAA) had two score 20 with 22 points from Tim Niles and 20 from Robert Moores. Adam Holthaus scored 12.

Southern led 9-4 after a basket from Matt Monroe with 15:14 left in the first half. The Lions led 13-10 after a jumper from Bowlin at the 13:33 mark, but the Hornets then went on an 11-0 run to make the score 21-13. The run grew to 22-5 after a layup from Jeremiah Box made the score 32-18 with 3:37 left in the half. The Hornets closed the half on a 7-4 run and led 39-22 at the break.

The Emporia lead grew to 23 (51-28) at the 15 minute mark of the second half. The Lions then proceeded to go on a 17-3 run over the next seven minutes and cut the score to 54-45 after a layup from Vincent Ateba. Southern continued the run, moving it to 26-5 after a three-point play from Mariun Price cut the led to two at 56-54 with 5:45 left.

A three from Bowlin with five minutes left tied the game at 59 and a pair of free-throws from Adams gave the Lions their first lead since the 13:33 mark of the first half (13-10). From that point on, the Lions dominated the game, going 9-11 from the free-throw line, including 8-8 from Adams alone, as well as making all four of their attempts from the field to close out the contest.

Adams scored 18 of his 22 points in the final 7:40 of the game. Southern out rebounded the Hornets 34-22 and after shooting just one free throw in the first half, the Lions went 19-23 in the second half. Southern forced 19 turnovers, scoring 23 points off of the miscues and out scored the Hornets 36-28 in the paint. The Lions out scored Emporia 55-32 in the second half.

The Lions will be back in action on Thursday, February 19 when they travel to Topeka to take on Washburn at 7:30 pm.