Devin Gibson doesn't usually have trouble finding shots, according to Fulton Hornets head coach Ryan Shaw.
The Fulton senior forward recorded his second straight double-double, totaling game highs of 27 points and 15 rebounds as the Hornets stayed unbeaten with an 86-69 North Central Missouri Conference triumph over the Boonville Pirates on Tuesday night at Roger D. Davis Gymnasium.
Gibson hit on 7-of-12 shot from the field, including 3-of-8 from 3-point range, to pace four Fulton players in double figures.
"We know he can make baskets and we know he's going to get him some shots," Shaw said with a chuckle. "I was really proud of the way he rebounded.
"(Senior forward) Sam (Christensen) and (junior forward) D'Angelo (Walker) were concentrating so much on keeping (Boonville junior center Ta'Vious) Brazil off the boards that Devin went in there and cleaned up."
The Hornets (6-0, 2-0 NCMC) dealt with foul trouble in the first two quarters, relying heavily on their reserves to help keep the game close. Walker's layup with 3 minutes, 7 seconds left in the first half gave Fulton a 25-22 edge.
"I have no reservations whatsoever about going to our bench," Shaw said. "We had to sit (senior guard) Ricky (Dawson) for a quarter and a half or so and that got us through, and he came out with fresh legs in the second half and there wasn't much they could do with him."
The Hornets were only up 35-31 at the break after the Pirates closed the first half with a 7-0 run.
Fulton - equaling last year's win total with Tuesday night's victory - opened the second half with a 7-0 spurt of its own, pushing out to a 42-32 lead on a Dawson jumper with 6:48 left in the third quarter.
Boonville (3-3, 0-1 NCMC) would get no closer than nine points in the period, while Fulton would carry a 58-46 advantage into the final 8 minutes.
The Hornets' starting five was responsible for all 28 fourth-quarter points as Fulton expaned its lead to as many as 20 points midway through the period. Senior forward Austin Wilson's 3-pointer with 4:20 to go gave the Hornets a 72-52 advantage.
The Pirates pulled within 72-58 when senior guard Clayton Lang hit the second of two free throws with 3:37 to go, but Christensen responded on the other end with a layup to push Fulton's lead out to 16.
Gibson put an exclamation point on his night, picking off a pass on one end and dunking on the other to give the Hornets an 80-63 lead with 2:10 to go.
Wilson scored 22 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-5 from behind the arc, and 7-of-8 free throws. Dawson - who sat out much of the first half with two fouls - finished with 11 points and five assists. Junior guard Kalin Mitchell scored 10 points, going 5-of-6 from the foul line.
Fulton shot percent (23-of-51) from the field and made 19-of-25 free throws, while outrebounding Boonville 47-35.
"Offensively, we were really good; after the first quarter, we were really good offensively," Shaw said. "Defensively, we have to do a better job guarding big guys."
Senior forward DeAundre Lewis led the Pirates with 23 points and eight rebounds. Junior guard Fuemmeler scored 14 points and Lang added 13 as Boonville shot 53 percent (21-of-40) from the field.
The Hornets continue NCMC play with varsity and junior varsity girls-boys' doubleheaders at Kirksville at 5 p.m. Friday.