BELLEVILLE — The Wabash Valley College men's basketball team, after a first half to the season marred by injuries and subpar play, are quickly turning the injury-free second half into payback time.

Chris Griffin scored 25 points -including key 3-point field goals down the stretch - to give WVC a 69-68 Great Rivers Athletic Conference win over Southwestern Illinois on Saturday, its' fourth straight win

Griffin, the 6-foot-7 forward just off the injured list, put the Warriors ahead to stay, 67-64 with two minutes to play.

When Tyrone Sherman missed the front-end of a one-and-one, Southwestern had a last-second chance to wipe out the Warriors 69-68 lead and get the win. Tony Bradley missed at the buzzer and Wabash Valley (10-10, 4-5 in GRAC) had survived.

Phillip Jackson scored 19 points for WVC.

The Blue Storm (15-5, 8-2) were led by Trae Anderson with 19 points. 6-foot-11 Keanu Post added 14 points.