KANSAS CITY – Missouri Western scored with 0.8 seconds left as the Griffons defeated University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Men's Basketball, 73-72, in the quarterfinals of the MIAA Tournament Friday at Municipal Auditorium.

Tied at 64 with two minutes left, guard Christian Moore hit a pair of free throws to put the Lions ahead by two. A three-point play put the Griffons ahead by one as the teams traded the lead eight times in the final minutes.

Forward Kameron Johnson hit a hook shot and two free throws to give the Lions a 70-69 advantage, but the Griffons answered with a layup with 14 seconds left.

Guard Christian Moore then drove and scored with 5.9 seconds left to give UAFS a 72-71 lead. However, the Griffons went the length of the court and scored with under a second left. UAFS had one final heave come up short.

The Lions rallied from double digit deficits in each half, as the Griffons led 14-4 before UAFS cut the lead to 21-19. MoWest led 35-31 at the half and started the half on a 9-0 run for a 44-31 lead.

UAFS trimmed it back to single digits with a 6-0 run before tying the game at 58 on a three by guard VJ Reeves. Moore gave the Lions their first lead at 64-62 with two free throws with 2:25 remaining.

Johnson led the Lions with a double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds while Moore tallied 18 points, six rebounds, seven assists and five steals. Reeves added 10 points for the Lions while guard Kanaan Holder scored 12 points off the bench.

UAFS held the Griffons to just 14.3 percent from beyond the arc but the Griffons had an eight-point edge at the free throw line. The Lions totaled 21 second chance points and 12 points off turnovers.