By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
PITTSBURG, KS - Missouri Western made 10 three-pointers and had five players score in double figures in a 79-53 win at Pittsburg State on Saturday afternoon.
It was the largest margin of victory this season for the Griffons (11-13, 7-9 MIAA), as they avenged a 72-64 loss to the Gorillas in St. Joseph back on Jan. 1.
Missouri Western was hot from the very beginning, jumping out to a 21-11 lead and eventually leading 37-21 at the break.
Missouri Western didn't let up, starting the second half on a 23-5 run and leading by as many as 30 before Pitt State (6-18, 5-13 MIAA) sunk a number of threes and went on a 16-3 run to somewhat narrow the gap.
The Griffons still shot a stellar 14-of-28 in the second half and 31-of-59 for the game to come away with a comfortable win.
"We were able to not necessarily maintain (a 30-point lead), Griffons head coach Will Martin said, "but we were able to maintain our discipline. So, I'm proud of our guys. But, for me as a coach, it did not feel like we had a 30-point lead. It felt like it was a two-point game, one possession game the entire time."
Will Eames scored a game-high 17 points - all of it in the first half. Taye Fields had his third consecutive double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Justin Bubak had career-highs with 11 points and three made triples.
Caleb Bennett also had 11 points - the most he's scored since Dec. 9. JaRon Thames finished with 10.
The Griffons won the rebounding battle 37-24 and had 12 assists to just five turnovers. It was a critical win for a Missouri Western team that sits ninth in the MIAA standings and is looking to solidify a spot in the conference tournament next month in Kansas City.
"There was a lot of pressure on this game," Martin said. "Not going to hide from it. So, for our seniors who have been through the adversity, not just this year but last year too, for them to come into this game and understand, we need this game to extend (our season) so we can play our best basketball in March."
Missouri Western is at Newman Monday for a makeup game. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. from Wichita. Coverage starts at 5 on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3).
Missouri Western women get dominated on the glass, fall to Pitt State
Pittsburg State (15-9, 10-8 MIAA) made nine of their first 12 shots, built a 15-point halftime lead and blew out No. 21 Missouri Western Saturday, 79-53.
The Griffons, coming off of a 71-57 loss at Missouri Southern Thursday, have now lost back-to-back road games for the first time this season. The Pitt State loss is also their largest margin of defeat this season as well.
"(Pitt State) showed up in every way and I thought played really well," Missouri Western head coach Candi Whitaker said. "You could tell they wanted to win it, and at this point in the year, I think that's the most important trait you have in your team."
The Gorillas, who lost to Missouri Western 81-55 in St. Joseph on New Year's Day, dominated on the glass 43-26, including 37-19 on the defensive end.
"When Connie (Clarke) isn't in, we're not getting offensive rebounds," Whitaker said, "and that's a big problem. There's a lot of people I begged and pleaded to rebound the basketball for us and they just weren't doing it."
The Griffons (18-5, 12-5 MIAA) were cold from the field all day Saturday, shooting just 19-of-62 from the floor, including 0-of-10 from three.
Tristan Gegg led Pitt State with a game-high 24 points, including a 3-of-5 effort from beyond the arc. The Gorillas shot 57.4 percent (31-of-54) on the day.
Connie Clarke led Missouri Western with 13 points. Corbyn Cunningham had 12 and Brionna Budgets 11.
Missouri Western will play its third straight road game on Tuesday when they play at Emporia State in a make-up game. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. Coverage starts at 5:30 on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3).
"They have to decide how they want to end their season," Whitaker said, as her team has five games remaining in the regular season. "There's still a lot in front of them, a lot of goals still out there. But, they have to figure some things out."
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