COLUMBIA — Adam McKnight recorded a double-double to power Nixa past Lafayette 56-33 in Thursday’s Class 6 third-place game.
McKnight collected 15 points and 12 rebounds. For the Final Four, he totaled 36 points and 21 rebounds.
Nixa (29-3) put up 23 points in the third quarter.
Eagles guard Keivon Flint finished the Final Four with just one turnover in 51 minutes of action.
Lafayette turned in one of the worst Class 6 Final Four performances in state tournament history. A day after getting beat by 30 in the semifinal round, the Lancers shot 24 percent (12-of-50) from the field, including 2-of-19 3-point shooting.
Lafayette scored on only 16 of its 56 possessions.
Nixa guard Randy Flint did not play due to an ankle injury he suffered Wednesday.
The Eagles’ 29 wins are the most for the program since Nixa was 30-2 in 2012.
This is the fourth third-place finish at State for Nixa.
LAFAYETTE (33) — Micek 2-12 2-4 6, Vardeman 2-7 0-0 4, Myers 0-2 1-2 1, Pickering 1-5 1-2 3, Pitney 3-9 0-0 7, Washington 1-6 0-0 2, Watson 1-3 1-2 4, Jury 1-5 2-3 4, Rolwing 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 12-50 7-13 33.
NIXA (56) — Foster 1-2 0-0 2, Flint 3-6 2-3 9, Meltabarger 3-4 0-1 6, Combs 5-10 0-0 11, McKnight 6-14 3-6 15, Seitz 0-2 1-2 1, McCoy 2-4 0-0 4, Kellis 2-3 0-0 4, Miesner 1-5 0-0 2, Vincent 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 24-53 6-14 56.
Lafayette 5 9 10 9 - 33
Nixa 14 13 23 6 - 56
3-point goals - Nixa 2-9, Lafayette 2-19. Rebounding - Nixa 42 (McKnight 12), Lafayette 34 (Pickering 6). Assists - Nixa 8 (Meltabarger 3), Lafayette 3 (Vardeman 2). Steals - Lafayette 8 (three with 2), Nixa 6 (K. Flint and McKnight 2). Turnovers - Lafayette 14, Nixa 12.
