Boys' basketball: Fulton 59, Kirksville 47

The Hornets halted a two-game losing streak by outscoring the Tigers 32-20 in the second half of Saturday's North Central Missouri Conference victory at Roger D. Davis Gymnasium.

Fulton - which swept the season series with Kirksville - is now 9-11 overall and 3-4 in the NCMC. The Hornets broke a 27-all tie by outscoring the Tigers 16-10 in the third quarter to take a 43-37 advantage.

Fulton then took control by outscoring Kirksville 16-10 in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Senior guard Anthony Paine made 12-of-15 free throws in supplying a game-high 22 points for the Hornets, who shot 40 percent (17-of-43) from the field and 72 percent (21-of-29) at the foul line. Junior forwards Tyler Sayler and John Adams provided 14 and 11 points, respectively.

"(Saturday) was a total team defensive effort," Fulton head coach Justin Gilmore said. "We did a really good job of making them take tough shots with hands in their face and then securing the rebound.

"Kirksville is a really strong and physical team, so to go out there against them and rebound the way our guys did was really good to see. I thought our guys played together and picked each other up when someone made a mistake."

Ryan Ball paced Kirksville with 13 points and Noah Copeland finished with 12.

The Hornets play their final home game of the season against Moberly in an NCMC matchup at 6 tonight. Fulton will be seeking to avenge an 82-74 loss to the Spartans in Moberly on Jan. 25.