KCAC

[Men's Basketball] Men's Basketball Falcons fall in exhibition at Missouri Western

St. Joseph, Mo. – The Friends University Falcons came out on the short end of a 78-50 result in an exhibition contest today at the Missouri Western State University Griffons in St. Joseph, Mo.The Griffons, an NCAA D-II squad out of the MIAA conference, scored the game's first six points and built a 12-3 lead within the first five minutes of action.Both teams went scoreless over the next three minutes until a three by Drew Patterson (FR/Charlotte, NC) snapped the skid and made it a six-point game.With the Falcons hanging around down 22-14, the Griffons ripped off the next eight points of the game to double their lead up to 16 with 3:32 left in the first half.The Griffons led 35-19 at the break and kept the advantage at a comfortable distance throughout the second stanza.Ian Konek (JR/Long Beach, Calif.) led the Falcons with 17 points and Alex Gray pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. Patterson recorded a team-best three assists for Friends.JaRon Thames paced the Griffons with 17 points and six boards, with Justin Buback adding 16.  Reed Kemp chipped in with 12 points for Missouri Western.The Griffons outrebounded the Falcons 42-36 overall, but Friends managed a 13-8 edge on the offensive glass.Next up, the Falcons will resume KCAC action at Tabor College Wednesday night (Jan. 5) at 8 pm in Hillsboro, Kan. Friends will then host the University of Saint Mary for Kids Day on Jan. 8 starting at 7 pm inside the Garvey Center.Tickets for all Falcon home events can be purchased by clicking HERE.