ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- D'Ante Harris hit a free throw with 2.8 seconds remaining, as the #6 SBU Bearcats avoided the upset and came back to beat the Missouri Western Griffons 79-78.

Harris started the game with a bang as he hit four straight three-point attempts, helping the Bearcats to a 19-4 early advantage. Harris would hit two more treys in the first half before his first miss. Harris and his teammates would go cold for the rest of the first half as the Griffons would outscore SBU 38-15 to take 42-34 halftime lead. Marcus Rhodes (9 points) and Dominique Thuston (7 points) would lead the first half MWSU reversal.

Western (7-10, 4-6 MIAA) would push their second half lead to as much as 11 points before SBU would stage a comeback starting with a conventional three-point play from Matt Rogers at the 18:20 mark. SBU would take the lead (50-48) at the 13:38 mark on a layup by D'Ante Harris.

The teams would remain close for the next six minutes until Western led 77-71 at the 2:03 mark.  Two free throws from Tomas Brock cut into the lead. Brock would score again at the 1:21 mark to cut the lead to four. Matt Rogers would make one of two free throws and then following a MWSU turnover, Rogers would hit a bucket to give SBU a 78-77 lead with 32 seconds left.

A free throw by MWSU's Leonard Parker tied the game. The Bearcats held for the last shot by D'Ante Harris and Harris was fouled with 2.8 seconds left. Harris would make the first freebie before missing the second on purpose. MWSU's last second attempt was no good and the #6 Bearcats (15-2, 8-2 MIAA) held on for the victory.

D'Ante Harris finished with 26 points and 10 boards to lead five Bearcats in double figures. Rogers had 16, Brock had 12, Johnnie Harris had 11 and Brandon Burgette had 10. Thuston and Lonnel Johnson had 13 for the Griffons. MWSU out-rebounded SBU 41-32, but the Bearcats outshot the Griffons 51% to 42%. SBU made 10 of 25 from long range, including six of nine from D'Ante Harris.

The 26 points for D'Ante Harris were just three off his career high of 29, set last season against Southwestern Oklahoma St. when Harris set the SBU record with nine three-pointers.

"Our guys kept fighting," said head coach Jeff Guiot. "We're down six with two minutes to go and they could have hung their heads. But they battled back. A win is a win, whether it's by 40 points or by one point. D'Ante wanted the ball with the game on the line. He went in and made a great play."

SBU continues on the road on Saturday in Warrensburg when they play the #24 Central Missouri Mules in a battle of ranked teams in a 3:30 p.m. start.

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