The 8th ranked NOC Mavs finished off Labette with a 20-4 run in the second half and beat the Cards 68-52 at Foster-Piper Fieldhouse Monday night in the first game of the spring semester.

NOC (15-1) was led by Demaree King and Avante Lederer with 15 points each.  Deaveon Bankston added 11 off the NOC bench.

The Mavs led Labette at half 36-22 but the Cards cut the NOC lead to 42-37 with 11:34 remaining.

Over the next five minutes, the Mavs outscored Labette 20-4 to put the Cards away taking a 62-41 lead with 6:44 remaining.  Lederer had seven points while Bankston had five during the Mavs' run.

"It wasn't the prettiest first game back from break but we did play hard," said Mavs' coach Donnie Jackson.  "We weren't the sharpest or best executing team but we made a couple big runs in the game that gave us the edge we needed."

"Deaveon (Bankston) was really disruptive and active for us," Jackson added.  "I thought he was a difference maker."

The Mavs host Connors Jan. 9 as conference games resume.

"It's all conference games from here on out," Jackson said.  "We need to get better in a short period of time if we want any chance to be competitive in the always rugged Region 2 grind."

Mavs 68, Labette 52

                  1     2--Total

Labette      22   30--  52

Mavs         36   32-- 68

Mavs--D. King 15, A. Lederer 15, D. Bankston 11, A. Boykin 6, P. Grafals 6, M. Crawford 5, T. Morgan 4, J. Ray 3, B. Tanner 3.