FORT SMITH – UAFS held Missouri Western to just 39-percent shooting from the field on Saturday afternoon as the No. 9 Lions stayed undefeated with a 73-58 win against the Griffons in the finale of the Hampton Inn Thanksgiving Classic at the Stubblefield Center.
It was the fifth game of a six-game home stand for the Lions (7-0), who are off to their best start of their NCAA Division II era. UAFS began the 2013-14 season 6-0 before suffering its first loss.
UAFS will finish its home stand at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday when the Lions begin defense of their Heartland Conference title against Rogers State at the Stubblefield Center.
Missouri Western (2-6) made only 22 of 57 shots from the field – the Griffons were 9-of-28 shooting from 3-point range – and made 5 of 7 free-throws. Guard Lavon Hightower had 21 points, and forward Joe Hamilton had 12 points off the bench to lead the Griffons, who only trailed 32-27 at halftime.
UAFS forced 17 turnovers that led to 17 points. Junior guard Chris Crawford had three of the Lions’ four steals, and senior guards Ladarius Coleman and DaVaunta Thomas and senior forward Dalton Glapion each blocked one shot.
The Lions shot 45 percent from the field (24 of 53) – they were 8-of-18 shooting from 3-point range – and shot 94 percent from the free-throw line (17 of 18). Crawford had 16 points, senior guard Marcus Wallace had 14 and Glapion had 10 – all off the bench. Coleman and senior guard Darrion Strong-Moore were the only starters to score in double-figures, finishing with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
UAFS dominated the Griffons in rebounding by 13 rebounds (40-27). Coleman had a team-high 11 rebounds to top off his double-double.
MEN
- 9 UAFS 73, MISSOURI WESTERN 58
Missouri Western 27 31 — 58
UAFS 32 41 — 73
Missouri Western (2-6): Hightower 21, Hamilton 12, Martin 7, Brown 5, Bonifas 4, Hudson 4, Evans 3, Fall 2
UAFS (7-0): Crawford 16, Wallace 14, Coleman 11, Strong-Moore 10, Glapion 10, Thomas 5, Elder 3, Rivera 2, Toney 2