CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — The Nevada Tigers definitely finished strong in Tuesday’s 70-50 non-conference victory over Carl Junction.
The Tigers led by eight points at the end of the third period, but the visitors erupted for 24 points in the final frame to turn a close game into a rout.
Nevada doubled up Carl Junction over the final eight minutes, 24-12.
The 70 points is a season-high for the Tigers.
Nevada improved to 8-11, while Carl Junction slipped to 6-12.
Four players scored in double figures for the Tigers.
Sophomore guard Jack Cheaney scored 21 points and hit four 3-pointers for the Tigers, while senior guard Cade Beshore added 16 points, also hitting four treys.
Senior forward Drew Beachler scored 13 points for the Tigers, while junior guard Brice Budd added 10.
Nevada made 17 of 28 free throw attempts.
The Tigers hit nine 3-pointers to Carl Junction’s two.
Senior forward Ayden Bard scored 22 points to lead Carl Junction.
Freshman guard Cooper Vediz added seven points for the Bulldogs, while sophomore forward Wyatt McAfee had six.
The Tigers held a 13-10 advantage at the end of the back and forth first quarter.
Nevada took an 11-point lead at 27-16 after five straight points from Cheaney. But the Bulldogs reeled off five straight points, as Jett Hocut hit a 3-pointer and Ky Warren scored in the lane.
A bucket from Beachler gave Nevada a 29-21 halftime advantage.
In the third quarter, Nevada went up 13 at 43-30 after Cheaney’s pull-up jumper.
The Bulldogs scored six straight points, two hoops from Bard and another from Brody Pant, but Nevada’s Beshore buried a 3-pointer for a 10-point cushion.
Bard’s tip-in at the buzzer cut CJ’s deficit to 46-38 at the end of the third period.
Nevada started the fourth quarter on a 12-2 run to put the game away, as the Tigers held a 58-40 lead with just over three minutes to play.
Carl Junction is at Lebanon on Friday.
Nevada hosts Carthage on Friday.
