Fourth ranked Lions open up season with 106-73 win - KOAM TV 7

Fourth ranked Lions open up season with 106-73 win over Dallas Baptist

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. - The fourth ranked Missouri Southern men's basketball team opened up the 2011-12 season in high fashion today, taking out Dallas Baptist 106-73 in its first game at the South Central Shootout held at Bartlesville High School. 

The Lions (1-0) trailed 25-22 after a three point play from DBU (0-1) with 7:49 to go in the first half. However, the Lions went on a 16-0 run over the next three and a half minutes that was capped off by a three from Adams to make the score 38-25. Southern would eventuall move the run to 29-8 as the half closed and the Lions led 51-33 at the half. Jason Adams had a monster first half with 27 points. 

Southern would not let up in the second half and led 87-63 with 7:38 to go. The lead would move to 95-67 with three minutes to go, before the final tally of 106-73. 

Five different Lions scored in double-figures led by Adams' 31 points on the night. He went 13-16 from the field and 4-6 from long range. Keane Thomann had 27 points and ten rebounds, going 12-13 from the field and 3-3 from the free-throw line. Christian Salecich and Matt Everson both scored 11, while Mike Thompson added ten. Jordan Talbert and Patrick Hester dished out a team-high six assists, while Adams and Salecich had five each. 

The Lions tied a school-record with 31 assists in the game ((11-14-98 vs. Ozark Christian) and nearly broke another, shooting 67.2 percent from the field. The record for field goal percentage in a game is 69.5 against Southwestern Oklahoma in 1986. The Lions also shot 56.3 percent from long range and 78.6 percent from the free-throw line. 

Southern will be back in action tomorrow afternoon, facing off with Arkansas-Monticello at 3:30 pm.