[box vs. MSSU]
JOPLIN, MO. … A strong shooting performance by Southwest Baptist University (19-2/8-2) combined with a stingy defensive effort in the second half propelled SBU to a 75-59 win over Missouri Southern (10-11/3-7). MSSU cut the lead to six, 63-57, but SBU held the Lions to just two points in the final 3:30 as the Bearcats finished on a 12-2 run.
Jason Jemison led all scorers with 17 points as Deon Davis added 15 points and Jim Grabowski had 10 points. Sheldon Pace recorded his fifth double-double of the year with 14 assists and 10 rebounds. Quentin Edwards had 15 for MSSU.
Taking a 5-0 lead in the first minute, SBU went up 7-3 by the 17:29 mark. Deon Davis put SBU on the board first with a three-pointer followed by a Jesus Lopez layup for the 5-0 lead. SBU took a seven-point lead, 11-4, by the 15:36 mark and pushed their lead to nine, 18-9, with 11:55 left in the half. MSSU scored the next four points to bring the lead back down to five, 18-13, before Juan Lopez put SBU back up by seven, 20-13. MSSU came within five, 20-15, just 15 seconds later before an old-fashioned three-point play by Steyn put SBU back up by eight, 23-15 (6:43). The Bearcats Jim Grabowski tied SBU’s largest lead at the 5:27 mark on a three-pointer. MSSU hit 3-of-4 free throws in the next 1:51 to come within six points but SBU outscored MSSU, 6-3, in the final 3:38 of the half for a nine-point lead, 32-23. SBU shot 50% in the first half as they led from the opening bucket.
Jesus Lopez gave SBU an 11-point lead in the first minute of the second half. MSSU’s Dan Jones put MSSU back within nine on a layup but SBU’s Deon Davis made 1-of-2 free throws to put the lead back at 10, 37-27. In the next minute, MSSU cut the lead to six on a layup and a jumper by Myron Hodge and Quentin Edwards to make it 37-31. At this point SBU went into a ‘RUN’ mode with a 15-2 run to take a commanding 19-point lead, 52-33, over 5:34. In the run Jason Jemison scored 10 of the 15 points with one three-pointer.
This run by SBU did not put MSSU away as the Lions answered with a 16-7 run to make it a 10-point game, 59-49, with 6:20 to go in the game. SBU went back up by 14 in the next two minutes and MSSU came right back at the Bearcats with an 8-0 run to bring the once 19-point lead to six points, 63-57, on a three-pointer by Daron Harris. A Deon Davis jumper and then a massive Steyn dunk put SBU back up by 10, 67-57, with 2:08 left to play. As MSSU went to cut the lead to eight on a layup, Steyn swatted his second block of the game as SBU regained possession of the ball with just 2:05 left in the game. Off that block, Davis connected on a three-pointer to push the lead back to 13, 70-57. His three-pointer completed a 7-0 run and put the game away for SBU. In the final 1:32, SBU outscored MSSU, 5-2, for a 16-point win, 75-59.
SBU will travel to Missouri Western in St. Joseph, Missouri, on Saturday, February 4. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
Notes: Sheldon Pace recorded his 5th double-double of the year…This is sixth time Pace was close to a triple-double…Pace has recorded 10 or more assists in seven games…The 14 assists is second best to his 17 vs. CMSU…SBU has now shot 50% or better in seven games this season…SBU has now shot 54% in three games this season…This is the 14th time that Jason Jemison has scored 10 or more points in a game…This is only the fifth time this season that SBU has made six or less 3-pointers in a game…SBU splits series with MSSU for the 8th time…MSSU still leads, 42-32.
