Men's Basketball Stings Hornets on Senior Night
Chloe’ Clossum
After a rocky season, the Griffons managed to win their final home game of the season 80–75 against the Hornets Saturday Night after a 10-point loss against them earlier on this season.
The Hornets jumped out with a 6–0 lead against the Griffons and then a 18–16 lead before the Griffons were able to go on a 14–0 run to take a 30–18 lead with 8:19 left in the first half.
Guard Tray Buchanan broke the lead at 8:08 left in the half with two free throws.
Jumah’Ri Turner followed up with a layup right after bringing the score to 30–22.
Will Eams followed up for the Griffons scoring the next five points giving the Griffons one of the biggest leads of the game 35–22 with 5:50 remaining in the half.
The Hornets then responded with a 1–2 run bringing the score to 37–32 with 2:45 remaining in the half.
The Griffons ended the first half with a 40–34 lead against the Hornets.
The Griffons kept the lead with 16:06 left in the second half with a score of 47–40 when the Hornets responded with a 8–0 run, gaining the lead of 48–47 while being the first of eight lead changes over the next three minutes, totaling 15 throughout the whole game.
JaQualyon “Q” Mays responded with a three pointer with 10:36 left, giving the Griffons a 59–54 lead after both teams went back and forth on scoring.
Turner managed to score two inside the paint, bringing the lead by the Griffons from nine to two.
Brenden Van Dyke, forward for the Hornets, scored the two last field goals for the Hornets with two back to back dunks, gaining the Hornets their final lead of the game of 73–71. Then, Eams made one of two free throws for the Griffons with only 2:08 left in the half, giving the Hornets only a one point lead now 74–73.
After unruly behavior from Head Coach Craig Doty after an offensive foul was called on Buchanan, Bennet took control of the situation, sinking the two free throws that were giving the Griffons now a one point lead.
Eams and Caleb Bennet scored twice more for the Griffons, earning them the win against the Hornets, bringing the score to 80–75 after Turner sunk two free throws with seven seconds left in the half.
Eams tied his career-high of 25 points while being able to lead five other Griffons in double figures at Missouri Western.
Mays, Caleb Bennett and Justin Bubak all tied for 12 points for the Griffons, with the lead scorer being Eams with 25.
The Griffons shot 59.9% on the floor with 11-of-18 being from three.
Not only was Eams the lead scorer, but he also shot 4–6 on 3 pointers, 3–6 on free throws and gained 6 rebounds.
Taye Fields followed close behind Mays, Bennett and Bubak with a lead of 11 points against the Hornets and 2–2 on free throws.
This was an even more special win for the Griffons after playing their final official home game of the season which also was a special moment for seniors Bennet, Mays and Tony Chukwuemeke on their senior nights.
The Griffons still have three more games to close out the regular season before heading to Kansas City for the MIAA Tournament.
