Missouri-Kansas City Holds Off USIU, 70-68

CHULA VISTA — Billy Newbill scored his team’s final points on a layup with 45 seconds left, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City frustrated U.S. International the rest of the way for a 70-68 men’s basketball victory Thursday night.

After Newbill’s shot made it 70-66, USIU came down the floor four times and managed to score just two points.

The Gulls fouled to end the first three possessions, but Missouri-Kansas City missed the front end of the one-and-one each time. The fourth time down, Russ Heicke scored to make it 70-68 with 10 seconds to play, but USIU was unable to get the ball back.

Missouri-Kansas City led by as many as 10, 60-50, with 8:37 to play, but USIU ran off five consecutive points to make it 60-55 and kept it close the rest of the way.

Heicke scored 24 points for USIU (6-9). Baxter Russell scored 19 points for Missouri-Kansas City, which improved to 2-4 after a loss to the University of San Diego Wednesday night.