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Missouri Southern worked overtime for the second straight game in the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
After trailing for almost the entire last 27 minutes of regulation, the Lions tied the game on Marquis Addison's basket with 24 seconds left, then went on a 9-1 run during a three-minute span in the extra period to trim Washburn 85-79 Wednesday night before 2,657 fans.
The Lions (21-5, 13-5 MIAA), who were fourth in the conference standings just one week ago, climbed into second place, one-half game in front of Washburn (18-7, 12-5). The Lions, who are sixth in the South Central regional rankings that were released Wednesday, trail first-place Northwest Missouri State by 1 1/2 games after the Bearcats survived 94-87 in two overtimes at Truman State.
Center Keane Thomann tallied 22 points to lead five Lions in double figures. Thomann, 6-foot-11 senior, scored 18 points after halftime and finished 6-of-10 from the floor and 10-of-10 at the foul line after not attempting a free throw in the first 28 minutes.
Senior guard Jason Adams and sophomore forward Jordan Talbert contributed 14 points apiece for the Lions, Addison scored 13 and Patrick Hester added 10.
“We know down the stretch this season, it’s going to be games like this every night,” Adams said. “We just have to come out and do what we’ve been practicing. Teams are trying to run a lot of zone on us because it’s hard sometimes to match up, but we’re finding ways to win, and that’s all we need to keep advancing in the conference.”
Jeff Reid popped in four of Washburn’s 10 3-pointers and finished with 20 points to lead the Ichabods. Guard Will McNeill, averaging 20.0 points per game, went 3-of-20 from the floor and scored 13 points. Bobby Chipman had 11 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots before fouling out, and Kyle Wiggins also scored 11.
The Lions, after jumping out to a 7-0 lead, trailed 34-25 at halftime and 42-27 just over two minutes into the second half. Looking for a spark, the Lions went to the full-court pressure defense that has been successful in recent years, and it paid dividends once again.
Jordan Talbert swiped one inbounds pass to set up two Thomann free throws, pulling the Lions within 48-42. And with just under four minutes left, Addison knocked the ball loose to Christian Salecich in the backcourt, and Salecich quickly fed Addison for a layup to pull MSSU within 68-66.
“They did a great job of controlling the tempo of the basketball game,” Lions coach Robert Corn said. “We had to change the tempo and speed the game up. We went to pressing, and I told them don’t try to run any set plays. We have different break options to speed the game up, and it was effective.”
“I really think we just needed to pick up our intensity,” Adams said. “We were kind of sluggish in our 1-3-1 and halfcourt zones. Coach went to a little press we have and it kind of sped them up and gave us some energy, which is what we needed. Luckily it got us back in the game.”
The Lions finally caught Washburn at 70-70 on two Thomann charities with 1:11 left in regulation. McNeill’s two free throws put Washburn back on top, but Addison’s drive for a basket with the left hand — after Thomann kept the possession alive by saving the ball inbounds — tied it again with 24 seconds left. McNeill’s guarded 19-footer at the buzzer was well short.
Washburn scored first on a Reid layup after an MSSU turnover, but Thomann’s layin tied it, and Matt Everson’s free throw and Adams’ midrange jumper off the glass in transition made it 77-74 with 2:15 left. Thomann’s layin off a feed from Salecich made it 79-75 with 1:30 left, and the Lions hit 6-of-6 free throws in the last 48 seconds.
The Lions finished 32-of-39 at the line compared to Washburn’s 15-of-17. After halftime, the Lions sank 28-of-32 charities, Washburn 11-of-13.
“Bobby Corn outcoached me,” Ichabods coach Bob Chipman said. “He had his guys attacking and we fouled them, and we didn’t attack.”
Washburn outscored Missouri Southern 18-7 in second-chance points, but the Lions had a 27-7 margin in points off turnovers despite each team having 14 turnovers.
The Lions conclude their home schedule Saturday afternoon against Fort Hays State.
Sports
Related Photos
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Globe/Kellen Jenkins Missouri Southern's Christian Salecich takes a three point shot over Washburn's Kyle Wiggins Wednesday night at MSSU's Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
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Globe/Kellen Jenkins Missouri Southern's Jason Adams takes a shot over Washburn's Martin Mitchell Wednesday night at MSSU's Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
Discussion
February 15, 2012
Lions win thriller over Washburn
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Outlaws open season Thursday on the road
Chris Oldner takes a cut during the Joplin Outlaws practice Tuesday afternoon. The Outlaws open their season on Thursday night at Rossville and play seven road games before their home opener on June 5.
The Joplin Outlaws and new coach Rob Vessell have set some lofty goals for the 2012 baseball season.
Continued ... - Stanton’s homers fuel Marlins’ surge in May
- Five sign to join Missouri Southern women's track team
- Whisner ignites Joplin Miners past Webb City
- Venus Williams joins Serena on sideline in Paris
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- Pittsburg State Sports
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- Vengels sixth in heptathlon; PSU picks up two seventh-place finishes
- Ethan Cordray signs with Pittsburg State
- Lions, Gorillas begin competition in outdoor track and field championship
- Three finalists named for PSU head baseball coach position
- Lions qualify 10, PSU 15 for Division II outdoor track meet
- Missouri Southern Sports
- High School Sports
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Area athletes turn shine at state meet
Webb City's Jarvis Jones takes sixth in the 200.
- Cleo Elbert steps down at Thomas Jefferson
- Frontenac wins first state baseball title
- Joplin's Jeremy Lynn takes fifth at state tennis
- Frontenac advances at state baseball
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