Numbers inside Nixa's at times rewarding and at times maddening 12-12 season reveal the Eagles have lost eight games by a total of 16 points and have won nine times by 10 points or more.

The Eagles' inconsistent ways continued Tuesday, as they needed a full half before breaking away from COC cellar dweller Carl Junction for a 57-41 victory.

Nixa was up only by a 23-21 count at halftime, before outscoring the Bulldogs 17-6 in the third quarter.

"It took a little bit," guard Josh Mason said. "But we started finding the right shots in the second half and hitting our shots."

"The only frustration I get out of this team is we're not getting consistency. All we ask is they play hard and be consistent," coach Jay Osborne said. "You would think in mid-February you would be playing consistent. But we've been so up and down. It's been a yo-yo. Tonight, we had seven turnovers in the first half and you can't have that against a sagging 2-3 zone. 

"We talked at halftime that we had to get get some separation, that we couldn't let a 3-19 team stay close," he added. "I thought our third quarter was good. We shared the basketball. We made the extra pass and we had some guys knocking down shots."

Nixa netted nine 3-pointers. Mason had four treys in his 16-point night and Brandon Gordon had a trio of 3s and 13 points. 

With the threat of icy road conditions, the game's start was moved up by 90 minutes.

"Not a big crowd tonight, so you had to get your own energy going," Mason said. "Once we got going and focused on the game, we were all right." 

"Once we started hitting shots, I knew we were going to pull away," Gordon said. "Everyone was working hard on defense and rebounding well."

In the paint, Osborne liked what he saw out of re-emerging  forward Jason Jones, who had eight points.

"We're getting good minutes out of Jones. He's been getting more aggressive," Osborne said. "He kind of went dormant in the month of January. I've always said sophomores disappear sometimes. Even the best sophomores we've had come through, they've had their moments in which they don't shine. He went through that, but is coming back

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CARL JNCTION (41) — Hoberecht 4 0-0 11, Armentrout 1 0-0 2, Warren 1 0-0 3, Baker 6 7-7 20, Smith 2 1-1 5. Totals 14 8-8 41.

NIXA (57) — Mason 6 0-0 16, Gordon 5 0-0 13, Roemen 2 2-2 6, Jones 4 0-0 8, Akers 3 0-0 8, Wofford 1 0-0 2, Engelman 1 0-0 2, Collard 1 0-0 2. Totals 23 2-2 57.

Carl Junction 12  9   6  14 - 41
Nixa                 6  17 17 17 - 57

3-point goals — Mason 4, Gordon 3, Hoberecht 3, Akers 2, Warren, Smith.