Nixa's boys basketball team celebrated Josh Mason's return by beating Branson 79-54 Tuesday.

Mason, returning from a hip flexor, scored his first points since the Eagles' season-opener on Nov. 29. by way of a jump shot at the free-throw line early in the second-quarter.

Luke Roemen scored 12 of his 20 points in the first quarter. Ace Akers and Brandon Gordon both added a dozen. Gordon scored his dozen all via three-pointers.

A nine point first-half lead turned into a 25-point blowout when the buzzer rang as Nixa erupted for 43 second-half points, outscoring Branson 16 points in the final half.

The Eagles upper their record to 11-10 overall and 3-1 in the COC. Nixa returns back to action for another COC match-up as they host Webb City on Friday.