MAC men fall to West Plains tempo control

WEST PLAINS — The West Plains Grizzlies utilized a slow-down style of play for one half of the ball game and then was able to hold off the Mineral Area College Cardinals in the faster-paced second half to win the regional contest 70-63.

The Cardinals managed less points than minutes in the first half, while the Grizzlies picked the right opportunity to score to carry a 10 point lead into the second half, 29-19.

The scoring pace picked up considerably in the second half with the Cardinals doubling their points in the first 10 minutes of play. Mineral Area scored on most every possession, but could not catch the Grizzlies who were bale to score from the perimeter.

West Plains hit three threes in the first 10 minutes of the second half, however, the Cardinals found their range beyond the arc and back-to-back threes by Kaleb Wright and Carlton Guyton pulled the Cardinals to within two at 47-45 with eight minutes left in the game.

It would be the closest that Mineral Area would get as Quinton Pippen hit a pair of threes for the Grizzlies to pull his team away from danger.

Mineral Area (14-5) scored 44 in the second half, but could only cut the lead by three points as the 17-3 Grizzlies utilized the free-throw line to their advantage in the final minutes of play.

Riley Raulston led the Cardinals in scoring with 16 points, and Martell Anderson had 11.

Mineral Area will be back at home on Wednesday to take on Meramec College at 7 p.m.