The Missouri State basketball Bears started the second half with a 14-0 run and kept rolling from there as they hit their top offensive production of the young season in an 88-56 win over the Lincoln Blue Tigers Tuesday night in Hammons Student Center in the second round of the South Padre Island Invitational.

The Bears rifled home 22-of-35 (.629) from the floor the second half, including 5-of-11 three-point tries as they built their 13-point halftime lead to a 27-point bulge the first two and a half minutes after the break. The lead had grown to 30 at 57-27 six minutes into the second half, and Missouri State’s widest margin reached 36 points.

The Bears finished the night at .516 (33/64) from the floor after a .379 effort the first half. LU shot .368 (21/57) for the game, including making just three of 15 from long range. The Bears enjoyed a 46-26 rebound margin.

Coach Barry Hinson played his 12 available players with 11 of them reaching the scoring column and all 12 pulling down rebounds in the game. Nathan Bilyeu and Deven Mitchell led the balanced attack with 12 points each and Tyler Chaney and Shane Laurie each scored 10. None of the starters played more than 15 minutes in the contest as Missouri State climbed to 3-0 for the young campaign

Lincoln was led by Ralph Mata’s 16 points as the Blue Tigers slipped to 3-2 for the campaign.

Missouri State now heads for Texas for the semifinals and finals of the tournament Friday and Saturday at South Padre Island. Missouri State will tangle with #9 Wisconsin at 11 a.m. Friday in the first semifinal, with Auburn and Oklahoma State meeting in the second game.