JOPLIN, Mo. -- The #9 SBU Bearcats raced by the Missouri Southern Lions, winning 102-95. D'Ante Harris tied his career high with 29 points for the Bearcats (16-3, 9-3).

The 29 points from Harris came on 7 of 10 from outside and 10 of 15 overall. Matt Rogers also went over 20 points for the Bearcats, scoring 24. Nick Kovacevich returned from injury and scored 18, including 16 in the first half. Ryan Dougherty also had a career high for the 'Cats with 14 points. Rogers also led with 7 rebounds and 3 steals. SBU shot 16 of 32 from long range and hit 56% from the field. Missouri Southern (16-7, 6-7) also shot 56% from the field and put five players in double figures, led by freshman Jason Adams with 21 points.

“When you're playing defense, all the other stuff falls into place,” said head coach Jeff Guiot. “The Bearcats are back to being the Bearcats. We're playing together and moving the ball. Everyone who came out tonight was treated to a great ball game. We have a lot of respect for Missouri Southern -- every time we'd get a lead, they would fight back.”

On the return of Nick Kovacevich, Guiot said that “Nick's a competitor. He gave us great minutes. Just his presence and leadership makes a big difference.”

D'Ante Harris tied his career high with 29 points.

Kovacevich didn't miss a beat as he hit his first shot from long range. D'Ante Harris would add a trey to key a 6-0 SBU start. Southern would answer with the next nine points. The teams would stay within six points of each other for most of the first half before SBU would extend the lead to eight (48-40) on another trey by Kovacevich with four minutes left. A 13-5 SBU spurt would come over the next several minutes before MSSU's Adams would hit a three at the first half buzzer, leaving SBU up at the half 61-48.

A technical foul on the Missouri Southern bench sparked a 8-0 Lion run that cut the SBU lead to 68-59. SBU would extend their lead again to 17 following free throws from Rogers before Southern would claw back again.

MSSU would cut the lead to 92-86 on a dunk by Adams with three and a half minutes remaining. The 'Cats would push their lead back to 10 points on a bucket and free throws from Dougherty before back-to-back baskets from DaRell Crittendon. D'Ante Harris would nail a shot-clock buzzer-beating runner with 1:28 to go, that extended the SBU margin to eight points.

Harris would equal his career high on a bucket with 44 seconds remaining, before MSSU's Mariun Price would hit a trey with 20 seconds left to cut the lead to 101-95.

The Bearcats are right back in action on Tuesday night when they host the Pittsburg State Gorillas in 7:30 p.m. tipoff. SBU defeated Pitt State 82-76 on December 13 in Pittsburg.

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