Mineral Area guard Andrew Starkey shoots while warming up at halftime of an NJCAA men’s basketball game against Three Rivers on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Park Hills. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
PARK HILLS – The Mineral Area men shot 49 percent from the field, and sent MSU-West Plains to a 12th consecutive loss with an added bonus on Wednesday night.
Nazir Allen neared a double-double during a 75-58 home victory, and the Cardinals clinched the top seed with home-court advantage throughout the Region 16 tournament.
Mineral Area (18-10, 8-3) travels to Moberly for a mostly inconsequential regular-season finale on Saturday after the Greyhounds fell to State Fair.
Allen scored a game-high 23 points, going 10-of-15 from the field, and also compiled nine rebounds plus three blocks.
The Cardinals gradually built a 46-27 lead by halftime, and will host a Region 16 semifinal next Thursday against an undetermined opponent.
Terron Garrett provided 13 points with six rebounds, and Nassir Binion tallied 10 points.
MSU-West Plains (9-19, 0-11) committed just 11 turnovers, but could not mount a sustained challenge while shooting 3-of-23 from beyond the arc.
Mekai Lindsey paced the Grizzlies with 17 points and three steals. Ace Evans was 7-of-9 from the line while adding 13 points, and Blayne Harris scored eight with seven rebounds.
