JOPLIN, Mo. -- Despite leading by as many as 12 points in the first half, the 14th-ranked Missouri Southern Lions fell at home Wednesday night, 81-68, to visiting Central Missouri at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

Southern (16-4, 8-4 MIAA) was led in scoring by 24 points and eight rebounds from Keane Thomann as the senior went 8-of-14 from the field and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line. Marquis Addison scored 13 points, while Jason Adams and Jordan Talbert scored 12 each.

Central Missouri (13-4, 9-3 MIAA) had four score in double figures with 15 each from Lance Beckwith and Dominique Long, while Boo Hunter scored 14 and Matt Webb added 12.

PITTSBURG, Kan. -- Rico Pierrevilus led the balanced Pittsburg State scoring attack with a game-high 18 points off the bench as the Gorillas claimed a 73-56 victory over Truman State University Wednesday (Jan. 25) at John Lance Arena.

The Gorillas used a 16-2 run to start the second half to expand on their 28-25 halftime advantage. During the run, Pitt State missed just one field goal, hitting eight of nine attempts. This gave PSU a 42-27 lead with 15:06 left in the game.

Truman put together a 14-3 run of their own immediately following Pitt State’s. This cut the Gorillas’ lead to just seven with 9:54 remaining. However, Pittsburg would pull away down the stretch to claim their second straight MIAA victory.

JOPLIN, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern Lions had a chance to extend their one point lead over the visiting Jennies of Central Missouri, but junior forward Erin Rice's three pointer hit the front of the iron and the Jennies converted the defensive board to go ahead by one and close out the game at the charity stripe for the 73-66 win Wednesday night.

The Jennies (14-4, 8-4 MIAA) got out of the gate quickly as they went up 9-2 in the first three minutes before Rice would go on a 4-0 run of her own to close the gap to three.  Central Missouri would then push the lead to 11 three times during the remaining of the half on 73.9 percent (17-of-23) shooting.

PITTSBURG, Kan. --  The 16th-ranked Pittsburg State Gorilla women’s basketball team turned in an impressive effort in the second half to erase a big halftime deficit to defeat Truman State University, 73-68, in John Lance Arena on Wednesday (Jan. 25).

Lizzy Jeronimus was the leading scorer and rebounder for the Gorillas (17-2,11-1 MIAA). The true freshman turned in an impressive 23 points and seven rebounds effort. Alexa Bordewick and Brooke Conley were the other two Pittsburg State players who recorded double figures with 15 and 11, respectively.

Drew Roberts added eight points and Amanda Orloske had a crucial six points off the bench.

JOPLIN, Mo. -- Missouri Southern football coach Daryl Daye has finalized his coaching staff with the addition of three more coaches, it was announced Wednesday.

Randall State, Chris Couch and Byron Anderson all come to Southern from either the Division I level or have played Division I football.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Southern senior guard Jason Adams was selected as MIAA Men's Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week by a panel of conference sports information directors for action during week concluding Jan. 21, it was announced Monday.

Adams helped the Lions to a 2-0 mark this week, including a big win against Northwest Missouri to claim a share of first place in the MIAA. Against the Bearcats, Adams scored 31 points, including 19 in the first half and moved into third place on the Missouri Southern all-time scoring list.