Griffons struggle defensively in 81-68 loss at Central Missouri

riggertMissouriWesternWARRENSBURG, Mo. – The Missouri Western men’s basketball team (6-11, 2-6) couldn’t hang on to a nine-point first half lead as they lost 81-68 at Central Missouri (10-5, 4-3) on Monday.

NOTABLES
– It was the sixth-straight loss in Warrensburg for the Griffons
– Missouri Western twice led by nine in the first half
– UCM ended the first half on a 6-0 run to take a three-point lead to the half
– After falling behind by 13 in the second half, MWSU cut the lead to six with a 10-3 run but UCM answered with an 8-0 run to take a 14-point lead
– The Griffons’ bench was outscored 33-11 by Central Missouri’s reserves
– Central Missouri shot 61.5 percent from the field, best of any MWSU opponent this season

TOP PERFORMERS
– Cole Clearman led Missouri Western with 20 points on 6-10 shooting from three-point range to go with his four assists
– Aaron Emmanuel scored 16 points with six rebounds and four assists
– Seth Bonifas had 10 points and six rebounds

UP NEXT
Missouri Western hosts Fort Hays State (9-6, 3-4) Thursday, Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. before second place Nebraska-Kearney (12-4, 5-2) visits the MWSU Fieldhouse on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 4 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —