Griffons soar past Rockhurst in non-conference clash
By Calvin Silvers
The Missouri Western men’s basketball team extended their dominance over Rockhurst on Tuesday night, securing a 73-59 victory in non-conference action at the MWSU Fieldhouse. The win marked the Griffons’ fourth straight over their Great Lakes Valley Conference rivals, continuing a series that has persisted annually since 2017, excluding the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Missouri Western wasted no time getting on the board as Zane Nelson showcased his agility, using a spin move at the top of the key before finishing with a left-handed layup to give the Griffons an early 2-0 lead. However, the fast start quickly fizzled as both offenses hit a drought, combining for nearly three scoreless minutes.
Rockhurst struggled with turnovers early, coughing it up twice during the dry spell, but the Griffons failed to take advantage. After another Nelson bucket put Western up 4-0, the Hawks finally broke through at the 15:57 mark with Dan Carr’s turn-around floater. Scoring remained hard to come by, as another two-minute lull followed, highlighted by rim protection on both ends with blocks from Rockhurst’s Dillon Mong and Missouri Western’s Kidtrell Blocker.
The offensive floodgates finally opened just past the 13-minute mark. Following two made free throws by Ethan Killgore, Blocker converted a layup to spark a 17-4 Griffons run. By the time Rockhurst called a timeout, Western had built a commanding 31-14 lead.
The Griffons carried a 38-19 advantage into the locker room, shooting 51.5% from the field while holding the Hawks to a cold 30.4% on 7-of-23 shooting. Western’s pressure defense forced eight first-half turnovers, fueling their offensive momentum.
Rockhurst found some rhythm to start the second half, but their inability to get stops on defense limited their comeback bid. Although the Hawks outscored the Griffons 40-35 after the break, they shot just 34.5% from the field in the period.
Nelson paced the Griffons with a game-high 19 points, while Julius Dixon added 18. Justin Bubak and Zion Swader joined them in double figures, rounding out a balanced attack for Western.
Missouri Western (5-1) hits the road Friday for a matchup against Arkansas Tech.
