FORT SMITH, Ark.- Men's Basketball traveled to Fort Smith for a Thursday night matchup against Arkansas-Fort Smith. The Lions took the game, 94-87.

How it Happened: 
-The Lions put together a 7-0 run to open the game forcing a timeout by Newman. Following the timeout, Sam Somerhalder and Cyrus Shaw got it started for the Jets. A layup by Somerhalder was able to break up a 9-0 run by the Lions. Jacob Joe scored his first basket of the game, a three pointer, to gain some momentum for the Jets. Baskets by Wright and McClure helped Newman cut the deficit. A jumper by Shaw would score his seventh point of the game with seven minutes remaining in the first half. A dunk by Wright with five minutes remaining cut the Lion lead to eight making the score 31-23. A 5-0 run by Newman with points by McClure cut the lead to five with 3:44 remaining in the half. The last score of the half by Newman would be a free throw from Shaw. At the half,  McClure leads the Jets with nine points. Shaw and Wright both have five rebounds. The Lions stay ahead 43-34 at the half. 

-Thatcher McClure got the momentum started for the Jets to open the second half. A 7-0 by the Jets would cut the lead by the Lions to two making the score 48-46. The Lions would break the run up, but a three-pointer by Joe and free throws made by Shaw would then give the Jets their first lead by one. The Jets and the Lions would go back and forth trading off baskets. The Lions regained their lead, but the Jets answered. Thatcher McClure would score his thirteenth point of the game and cut the lead back to just one with 10:52 left in the game. Fort Smith gained a six point lead, but four points by Shaw cut their lead to two. Points would continue to go back and forth between the teams before a 5-0 run from the Lions made the score 72-66 with 6:18 minutes remaining. The Lions run was cut short from a made jumper by Deacon Courtney which would add to his total of eight points on the night. Joe would make his fifth three-pointer forcing a timeout with 4:52 remaining. Following the timeout, the Lions would go on a 6-0 run extending their lead to eleven making the score 82-71. Points by Somerhalder, Freeman, Wright and Joe in the final seconds were not enough to gain the lead back. Four Jets would end the game scoring in double digits. The Lions would close out the game, 94-87. 


Player Notes:
-Cyrus Shaw led the team with 21 points 
-Jacob Joe had 18 points going 6-8 behind the arc 
-McClure recorded 16 points and 7 rebounds 
-Terrell Wright had 10 points and 13 rebounds

Newman will continue on the road in Tahlequah, Oklahoma against NSU at 7:30 PM on January 23rd