December 20, 2008 01:04 am
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From staff reports
sports@joplinglobe.com
CAROLINA, Puerto Rico — Missouri Southern saw a 15-point second-half lead sliced to a single point.
But Vincent Ateba and Mariun Price combined to score seven straight points, and the Lions held on for a 74-70 victory over Concordia (N.Y.) on Friday night in the Puerto Rico Holiday Tournament.
The No. 14-ranked Lions (11-0) advance to the championship game at 5 p.m. today against Puerto Rico-Bayamon, which knocked off previously undefeated Northwood (Fla.) 77-69 in the first semifinal game. Northwood, an NAIA Division II school, is coached by former Villanova coach Rollie Massimino.
The Lions, ahead 42-34 at halftime, widened their margin to 17 points before the Clippers (2-8) went on a 19-4 spurt to pull within two points.
Missouri Southern held a one-point lead when Ateba scored on two consecutive possessions. Ateba got the ball inside again on the next trip, and he threw it to Price on the perimeter. Price was fouled on the 3-point shot and made all three charities, giving the Lions a 70-62 lead with approximately four minutes left.
Ateba scored again to give the Lions a 72-66 lead with 2:29 left, and the Clippers never got closer than the final margin. Ateba scored 10 of his 15 points in the second half.
“Late in the game Vincent wanted the ball, and he did a good job converting,” Lions head coach Robert Corn said. “We have a lot of confidence in him, and he has delivered most of the time.”
Price, 6-foot-1 junior guard, led the Lions with 18 points, including 10 in the first half, and Skyler Bowlin contributed 11 points.
“Mariun Price continues to make big plays for us in crucial situations,” Corn said.
The Lions shot 49 percent from the floor, made just 11 of 19 free throws and were outrebounded 32-26. But the Lions’ pressure defense forced 25 Concordia turnovers, and the Lions scored 24 points off turnovers.
Concordia shot 58 percent in the first half but committed 19 turnovers, leading to 20 MSSU points. In fact, the Clippers had their 10th turnover about three minutes before reaching 10 points.
The Lions collected 14 steals, including six by Bowlin, three by Price and two apiece by Ateba and Jason Adams.
“Our press was probably the best it’s been in a long time,” Corn said. “We did a good job with our traps and rotation. We got three or four steals when we hustled back. We really did a good job of getting opportunities out of the press, and most of the time we did a good job capitalizing on it.”
Samuel Batista, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard playing in his hometown, captured game honors with 23 points for the Clippers. He has 47 points in the two tournament games.
“We played well in spurts. We didn’t do a good job of sustaining it,” Corn said. “To Concordia’s credit, they kept playing and battling hard, and we didn’t respond. I thought we had them on the ropes two or three times, but each time we self-destructed a little bit. The things that got us the lead — sound defense and the extra pass on offense — once we got the lead, we got a little complacent, took a quick shot, and that led to open 3s at the other end.”
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