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Lions drop regular season finale, but make tourney EMPORIA, Kan. -- Senior Dan Jones dropped in a career-high 29 points, but it wasn't enough Saturday as Emporia State beat the Lions, 87-73, in the regular season finale at White Auditorium. Despite the loss, Missouri Southern (12-15, 5-11) clinched a berth in the MIAA Postseason Tournament, thanks to Washburn's loss at Central Missouri State. The Lions will be the No. 7 seed in the eight-team tournament and will face off with No. 2 seed Central Missouri State in the 6 p.m. game on Friday (March 3). The Lions trailed by 24 points at halftime as Emporia State enjoyed a 24-11 advantage on the glass and thrived behind 18 first-half points from senior Shawn Herrman. Southern scored the first four points of the game before Herrman scored nine of the Hornets' first 14 points. Then, ESU ended the first half on a 23-8 run. After 33 percent shooting in the opening period, the Lions shot 62 percent in the second and cut a 24-point ESU lead down to 11 points with 12:14 left on the strength of an 18-5 run that featured nine points from Jones. ESU pushed it back to 16 points, but Southern didn't go away and had it down to 10 points with 4:26 to go. However, MSSU committed five turnovers in the final 3:36. Herrman finished with 21 points to lead the Hornets, who out-rebounded the Lions, 42-22. Leroy Dawson added 15 points, Tyrell Sledge 12 and Ryan Blevins 11. Jones converted 9-of-11 from the field and made 11-of-15 the foul line en route to 29 points in 28 minutes. Juniors Myron Hodge and Ed Miles each had 10 points, and senior Quentin Edwards had eight points, seven assists and six steals. .
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