ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western men's basketball team completed a season sweep of Pittsburg State as they beat the Gorillas 94-76 Thursday night inside the MWSU Fieldhouse. Western improves to 15-12 this season and 11-5 in the MIAA, while Pitt State drops to 9-16 and 5-11 in league play. The Griffons have now won eight of their last nine games and they're 10-0 at home this season.
A five-point game at the half, MWSU outscored the Gorillas by 13 on 66.7% shooting in the second half to run away with its 11th MIAA win of the year. Despite the final score, the lead changed eight times and was tied five times mostly all in the first half. Pitt State tied the game at 50 early in the second half, but the Griffons answered with a 12-1 run that saw the Griffons go 5 for 6 from the field to take an 11-point lead. Pitt State whittled the Griffon lead to six with 8:21 to go, but MWSU busted it back open with a 12-2 run that also saw the Griffs go 5 of 6 from the field.
NOTABLES
- The 10th consecutive home win for the Griffon surpassed the 2009-10 team's nine consecutive home wins and are the most for the program since starting the 2002-03 season 13-0 in the MWSU Fieldhouse.
- It was the eighth win in the last nine games for the Griffons.
- The 15 overall wins and 11 conference wins are the most for the program since the 2009-10 season.
- With Rogers State's win and Missouri Southern's loss on Thursday, those two teams were tied for second in the MIAA standings with the Griffons one game back of the pair.
- MWSU shot a season-best 59.4% from the field and tied a season-high with 38 made field goals.
- The Griffon defense limited Pittsburg State to 36% from the field.
- After going 3 of 12 from 3-point range in the first half, the Griffons went 7 for 11 in the second half.
- Tyree Martin paced three Griffons who scored 20-plus with 24 points. Martin was 10 of 15 from the field with 11 rebounds and two blocks. He had 18 points and nine rebounds in the first half.
- Tyrell Carroll scored 15 second half points to finish with 21 points, six rebounds and four assists.
- Tyus Millhollin also scored 21 points, going 5 of 10 from long range with a team-high six assists.
UP NEXT
Missouri Western hosts No. 17 Missouri Southern (19.6, 12-4) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the MWSU Fieldhouse. The Lions lost 77-76 on a buzzer beater at No. 1 Northwest Missouri State on Thursday night and defeated the Griffons 97-87 last Saturday in Joplin.
--- MWSU Athletics ---