ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - It was a close game and tough loss for the Hawks as they fell in their first road game of the season, 82–80, to Missouri Western. Quincy opened the afternoon with complete control, but a massive Griffon run late in the first half and another surge midway through the second put the Hawks in a constant battle to claw back. Despite a furious late push behind Lorenzo McMillion's breakout performance, QU came up just short in a thriller at the MWSU Fieldhouse. 

Quincy's start could not have been better, exploding out of the gate with an 11–0 run fueled by Camren Kincaid's early free throws, an interior bucket from Jakeb Wallingford, and steady ball movement that generated quality looks. Through the first five minutes, Missouri Western couldn't buy a basket, and the Hawks dictated the pace on both ends.

The Griffons slowly chipped away, using offensive rebounds and second-chance points to crawl within 21–17. That's where Lorenzo McMillion delivered his first major spark, a transition three that re-energized QU. Moments later, Tiernan Stynes buried a triple to push the margin back to double digits at 29–19, seemingly restoring order for the Hawks.

But the final minutes of the half belonged entirely to Missouri Western. The Griffons erupted on a 17–2 run, attacking the rim, getting to the free-throw line, and capitalizing on QU turnovers to grab their first lead at 37–31. Herb Martin steadied Quincy with four straight points, and Stynes beat the buzzer with a layup to cut the halftime deficit to just one at 39–38.

Out of the break, Missouri Western continued to hold a steady advantage, extending the lead to nine with around 12 minutes remaining. The Hawks repeatedly hung around but could not generate the one run they needed until McMillion took over. Over a four-minute stretch inside the final five minutes, he scored 12 straight QU points, hitting from deep, finishing at the rim, and turning defense into offense to bring the Hawks within two.

Quincy had two clean chances in the final minute: a transition layup opportunity for Kincaid that rolled off, and Stynes' tip-in at the horn after a scramble, which left the Hawks just two points shy as Missouri Western escaped with the 82–80 win.

The Hawks were strong offensively for most of the night, shooting 46.9% from the field, 36.0% from three, and an elite 84.6% at the free-throw line. Offensively, Quincy's spacing and ball movement produced balanced, high-percentage looks, particularly during the early run and McMillion's late takeover. The Hawks also generated 33 bench points and held their own on the glass with 32 rebounds.

Ultimately, the difference came from Missouri Western's ability to maximize second-chance opportunities and score efficiently inside. The Griffons finished with 22 second-chance points, out-rebounded QU 38–32, and capitalized on Quincy's 17 turnovers for 16 points. Those extra possessions flipped the game, particularly during the 17–2 first-half run and the sustained scoring window midway through the second half. 

Lorenzo McMillion delivered a season-best performance off the bench, pouring in 22 points on 8-for-10 shooting, including 4-for-4 from deep, and a late-game scoring surge that kept QU alive. Max Booher reached 16 points for the second straight game with four made threes, providing important perimeter production. Herb Martin added 11 points and brought an energetic presence in transition and on defense. Kincaid finished with 11 points and four rebounds, while Stynes collected seven points and five rebounds, though it was his first game cooling off shooting-wise.

The Hawks have a short turnaround as they prepare for another MIAA opponent in Pittsburg State. Tipoff is scheduled for Monday, November 24, at 6:00 PM.