Mineral Area shoots 54 percent, controls West Plains on boards
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Mineral Area guard Ramello Smith drives against SW Illinois during the first half of an NJCAA men’s basketball game on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Park Hills. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Mineral Area outworked a MSU-West Plains squad missing two post players for a plus-20 rebounding margin on Wednesday night.
Excellent ball movement resulted in five players easily surpassing double figures, and the Cardinals shot 54 percent overall in a 94-74 road triumph.
Ramello Smith emerged off the bench with a season-high 21 points plus eight rebounds and three steals. His fourth 3-pointer created the largest lead of the game at 84-60.
Jordyn Richard, Nazir Allen and Terron Garrett each netted 15 points for Mineral Area (12-6, 2-0). Edwon Duling Jr. compiled 12 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
Ace Evans was an impressive 10-of-13 from the field, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc, and notched a game-high 27 points for MSU-West Plains (9-9, 0-2).
Allen powered in a putback after Garrett drained a 3-pointer, then finished off two fast breaks with a layup and uncontested slam as an 11-0 surge created a 21-9 lead.
The Grizzlies rarely attacked off the dribble over the first eight minutes, but remained within 25-19 after Evens swished his third triple from deep range.
MAC responded when Maki Joyner stripped control of a rebound, and followed his own miss among multiple taller players. Garrett nailed a corner three and smooth mid-range fade moments later.
Frustration became evident when West Plains guard Dassiah Green lost possession trying to split two defenders. Duling obtained the loose steal, and was kicked by Green, resulting in a technical foul.
Duling later sank a baseline jumper, and Smith foreshadowed his superb second half by completing a give-and-go pass from Iziah Purvey. Mineral Area took a 49-33 lead into the break.
Evans drove for a 3-point play, and briefly pulled the Grizzlies within 58-46 on another aggressive finish, but Smith answered with two straight timely layups in transition.
Back-to-back threes from Smith restored a 76-55 separation. Richard found room for a baseline finish in traffic after earlier coaxing in a difficult leaner in the paint.
Mineral Area was 9-of-16 from beyond the arc, and will travel to Three Rivers for the first of three scheduled clashes on Saturday.
Nassir Binion chipped in eight points for the Cardinals, and survived a violent crash to the floor after elevating to block a layup attempt in the early going.
Shunderrius Glass was a perfect 6-of-6 from the line, and amassed 16 points with four assists for the Grizzlies. Makhi Lindsey tossed in nine points, and Tyrell Smith provided eight.
