The Creighton Bluejays got key baskets and free throws when they needed them with the biggest of both coming in the final minute as they slipped past the Missouri State basketball Bears 66-62 in Missouri Valley Conference play Wednesday evening in Hammons Student Center. The Bluejays’ four-point verdict came after their three-point, last-minute win over the Bears in Omaha Dec. 30 to give CU a season sweep of Missouri State for the first time in four years.
    Missouri State dropped its second straight home game after a 9-0 home start. It was the Bears’ third loss in a row overall and fourth in their past five games as they dipped to 14-7 for the season and 5-5 in MVC play. Creighton moved into a tie for first with Southern Illinois at 7-3 and the Bluejays are now 13-7 overall.
    In a game that was tied nine times and saw the lead change 12 times, the second half was a see-saw affair until Creighton took its biggest lead of the night at 52-46 with 7:23 to play. Six straight points by Dale Lamberth drew Missouri State even at 52-52 with 5:18 left but Creighton pushed the margin back to four at 59-55 with 3:38 remaining.
    The Bears’ Nathan Bilyeu hit two of four free throws over the next minute to make it 59-57 and it stayed that way until Missouri State’s Blake Ahearn hit a deep three from above the right wing to put the Bears up 60-59 with 47 seconds left. Creighton’s Nate Funk answered with a short jumper to put CU ahead to stay, and, when the Bears missed connections on their next two trips downcourt, Creighton tossed in four free throws to make it 65-60 with 11 seconds left and the Bears got only one more late bucket by Lamberth.
    As the end of the game revolved on key Bears’ turnovers, the first half ended the same way. Missouri State had been in front for six minutes and had the lead and the ball and a chance at a last-second shot but a turnover at midcourt led to a Creighton three-point play and the Bluejays took a 29-27 lead into the locker room.
    The Bears finished with their worst home shooting night of the season at .364 (20/55) and compounded that with .571 (16/28) accuracy from the foul line. MSU hit just 32 percent the second half while CU was at 46 percent and the Bluejays helped their cause with .789 (15/19) free throw shooting. Creighton had a 35-34 rebound margin as Dane Watts grabbed 10. Funk led all scorers with 21, Nick Porter had 18 and Anthony Tolliver scored 13.
    Lamberth was superb for the Bears, with the only shot he missed all night a three-point try with 15 seconds left in the game. The ball went in, rattled and popped out and Lamberth finished with 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting to go with seven rebounds. Blake Ahearn had 14 points and Nathan Bilyeu also grabbed seven boards for the Bears.
    Missouri State stays home to play host to the Bradley Braves Saturday (Jan. 27) in MVC play in Hammons. Tipoff is 7:05 p.m.
