MOBERLY, Mo. – Lavonta Ivery totaled 19 points plus six rebounds, and Moberly topped Mineral Area 82-78 in the regular-season men’s basketball finale on Saturday night.
Shaunassey Hatchett added 18 points and rebounds off the bench, and sank 10-of-10 free throws for the Greyhounds, who established a 43-32 lead at halftime.
The Cardinals shot a superior 47 percent from the field, and rallied to within 76-73 when layups by Nassir Binion and Terron Garrett sandwiched an inbounding turnover..
Ivery answered with two clutch tosses from the line, where his team went 24-of-28 overall, but Binion finished an interior feed to again create a one-possession game with 1:58 remaining.
Josh Lowe added another pair from the stripe to finish with 18 points, and Hatchett did the same after Moberly (24-6, 7-5) emerged with a timely steal.
Mineral Area (18-11, 8-4) had already clinched the No. 1 seed along with home-court advantage for the Region 16 tournament, and reduced minutes for top scorer and post defender Nazir Allen.
Binion was 8-of-12 from the field, and netted a game-high 21 points for the Cardinals, who will host either Moberly or MSU-West Plains in the semifinal round on Thursday.
Lorenzo Shields finished with 13 points, and Garrett provided 12 along with seven rebounds. MAC drained 17-of-20 free throws, and led 32-31 when Garrett drove and faked out two defenders.
The Greyhounds responded with a 12-0 to complete the first half. Caleb Estes sparked the momentum swing with a jumper, and chipped in 12 points.
Jordyn Richard had 11 points as Mineral Area likewise placed four in double figures. Ramello Smith dished out a game-high six assists.
