(Interstat) — The Mineral Area Cardinals defeated the Missouri State-West Plains Grizzlies 81-75 in a men’s junior college basketball game Wednesday night. The visiting Grizzlies, now 3-13 overall, kept pace early and trailed just 43-29 at halftime. A stronger second-half performance from Missouri State-West Plains narrowed the gap, but the Cardinals, improving to 15-6, secured the victory. The win completed a regular-season sweep for Mineral Area, which previously beat the Grizzlies on Jan. 14. Jordyn Richard led a balanced Mineral Area attack. Tyrell Smith was a key performer for Missouri State-West Plains in the loss.