Missouri State Welcomes Basketball Travelers Event to JQH - Missouri State will conclude its non-conference schedule, save the February 21 appearance in the ESPNU BracketBusters, when it welcomes Norfolk State, California-Irvine and Middle Tennessee to Springfield for the Basketball Travelers Tip-Off Tourney. The December 20-22 event will include two games each day at JQH Arena (11,000) with the Bears playing the 8:05 p.m. game nightly.

 Basketball Travelers, Inc. was established in 1985 to arrange domestic and international basketball competition for over 200 collegiate and high school teams annually. The Basketball Travelers staff, which includes former coaches and players, have contacts around the globe and organize such events as the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam, World Vision Classic, Duel in the Desert and BP Top of the World Classic in Alaska.

 The Bears are coming off a 63-46 win over Central Arkansas last Saturday at JQH Arena as MSU held the visitors to 35.8 percent shooting, including 1-for-13 from three-point range, to complete a 4-0 season sweep over Arkansas’ Division I teams. Missouri State was led by Wade Knapp (Sr., C, Wakeeney, Kan.) who posted 14 points, six boards and a pair of blocked shots to put him in double figures in scoring for the third straight game. Justin Fuehrmeyer (Jr., G, St. Charles, Mo.) had 12 points off the bench for the Bears on 3-for-4 shooting, and Ryan Jehle (So., F, Topeka, Kan.) matched a career-best with 10 points. The Bears shot 57.1 percent in the second half and 43.9 percent for the game, while making good on 9-of-23 treys and 18-of-24 free throws.

 All six games of the tournament will be shown live and free on the internet through a special Bears Live! promotion. For details, go to www.MissouriStateBears.com and click on the Bears Live! link.

The Schedule - There will be two games each night, beginning with a 5:35 p.m. game, followed by an 8:05 p.m. nightcap, featuring the MSU Bears.

Game 1 (5:35 p.m.) UC-Irvine (1-7) vs. Middle Tennessee (4-4)

Game 2 (8:05 p.m.) Norfolk State (1-5) at Missouri State (5-3)

Game 3 (5:35 p.m.) Middle Tennessee vs. Norfolk State

Game 4 (8:05 p.m.) UC-Irvine at Missouri State

Game 5 (5:35 p.m.) Norfolk State vs. UC-Irvine

Game 6 (8:05 p.m.) Middle Tennessee at Missouri State

The Series - Missouri State has never played UC-Irvine or Middle Tennessee in men’s basketball. The Bears are 1-0 against Norfolk State after a 93-67 win over the Spartans on December 6, 1974 at McDonald Arena in Springfield.

Head Coach Cuonzo Martin - Cuonzo (CON-zoe) Martin (Purdue, 2000) is in his first season as a collegiate head coach after eight seasons as an assistant coach and associate head coach at Purdue (2000-08) where he was a standout performer for Coach Gene Keady from 1991-95. He became Missouri State’s 16th head basketball coach on April 1, 2008.

 He is 5-3 in his brief coaching tenure, including a 4-1 mark at JQH Arena. He never faced UC-Irvine or Norfolk State as a player or coach, but was 1-0 against Middle Tennessee as an assistant at Purdue.

 Martin (37) played professional basketball for four years, including two stops with the Milwaukee Bucks and one with the Vancouver Grizzlies of the NBA. He spent most of his professional playing time in the Continental Basketball Association and in Europe, leading Grand Rapids in scoring three seasons and leading the Felize Scandone team in Avellino, Italy in 1997. Originally from East St. Louis, Ill., he scored 20 points against the Bears as a Purdue player on 12/22/92 and helped Purdue to a 4-0 mark against MSU as a player and coach.

Norfolk State - The Spartans out of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference are off to a 1-5 start before a Wednesday night meeting at Wright State. After a season-opening win at Longwood, 81-74, NSU has lost five straight and will play two tournaments before the end of the calendar year, including this weekend’s event and the Montana State Classic, December 28-29.

 Senior guard Michael Deloach (22.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg) is the Spartans’ top standout. The six-footer has two 20-point games, including 26 at North Carolina A&T on December 6, and a season-best 32-point outing at William and Mary on November 19. He has scored in double figures in every game this season and is the MEAC’s top scorer. Fellow senior Corey Lyons (10.7, 3.7) also averages in double figures in scoring and is the squad’s top three-point shooter.

 NSU is averaging 17.0 turnovers per game and is shooting 29.7 percent from three-point range, averaging five treys per game. The Spartans hold a -7.5 rebound margin on the season, while NSU opponents have made good on 48.9 percent of their field goal attempts this season.

 The Norfolk, Va., school returns a pair of starters, eight lettermen and 60-percent of their scoring from last year’s 16-15 squad that was 11-5 and tied for second in the MEAC standings. NSU was picked fourth out of 11 teams in this year’s preseason conference poll.

 Head coach Anthony Evans (St. Thomas Aquinas, 1994), 38, is in his second season as head coach of the Spartans and overall. He is 17-20 (.459) as a head coach, and prior to being named as head coach last season, was assistant coach at Norfolk the previous four seasons. He spent two seasons as sideline boss at Delhi (N.Y.) Tech where he compiled a 62-8 record for the NJCAA Division III school, earning a national No. 1 ranking both seasons.

UC-Irvine - The Anteaters, out of the Big West Conference, are 1-7 on the season and come to Springfield after a narrow loss to Seattle on Tuesday night. The 55-52 home loss to Seattle was decided in the final seconds and came on the heels of the team’s first win of the year, 71-63, at Pepperdine (12/7).

 Three UCI players average, including 6-5 freshman forward Eric Wise (12.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg) who is also second on the club in steals and tied for third in assists. Wise is coming off a 17-point performance against Seattle and has scored in double figures in six of the team’s eight games. Senior post player Kevin Bland (10.5, 5.3) is the squad’s top rebounder and is making half of his shots on the season, while junior guard Michael Hunter (10.1, 1.5) is the Eaters’ top returning scorer from last season and top assist collector this season. Hunter is tied for the team lead in three-pointers with fellow returnee, senior Brett Lauer, with 17 apiece.

 UCI, is allowing 75.9 points per game and has a -9.0 rebounding margin. Its opponents are shooting at an amazing 54.1 field goal percentage on the season and 43.4 percent from beyond the arc.

 UC-Irvine returns three starters and five lettermen from last year’s 18-16 squad that was 9-7 and finished fifth in the Big West. The Anteaters were picked sixth in both the coaches and media preseason Big West polls in the nine-team league.

 Head coach Pat Douglass (Pacific, 1972) is 172-161 (.517) in his 12th year at UC-Irvine and 548-280 (.662) in his 28th year overall, including previous coaching stints at Eastern Montana (1981-87) and Cal State Bakersfield (1987-97). He has never coached against Missouri State.

Middle Tennessee - The Blue Raiders from the Sun Belt Conference are off to a 4-4 start and had a two-game winning streak snapped on Monday night at home against Tennessee-Martin, 72-65. MT will also play Wednesday night at Belmont in just its second road game this year.

 Junior forward Desmond Yates is the Sun Belt Conference’s top scorer at 18.4 points per game. The league preseason player of the year also leads the Blue Raiders in rebounding (5.9) and is second on the team in three-pointers. Senior guards Demetrius Green (12.0, 4.2) and Kevin Kanaskie (11.1, 4.8) also score big for MTSU with Kanaskie leading the team in three-pointers and assists.

 With an eight-point road loss to Vanderbilt and 10-point home defeat to Tennessee, the Blue Raiders are no stranger to big-time basketball. As a team, MTSU averages 37.9 rebounds per contest and makes good on 45.4 percent of its shots, while grabbing eight steals a game.

 Middle was picked to win the six-team Sun Belt East Division, collecting 11 first-place votes in the conference preseason poll. Yates was named the Sun Belt’s preseason player of the year and was a first-team all-conference preseason pick, and Kanaskie was second-team.

 Head coach Kermit Davis (Montevallo, 1977) is 104-86 (.547) in his 7th season at Middle Tennessee and 175-136 (.563) in his 11th year overall. He has previous coaching stops at Idaho (1988-90 and 1996-97), Texas A&M (1990-91) before arriving in Murfreesboro, Tenn., in 2002-03. He has never coached against the Bears, but is 1-0 all-time gainst UC-Irvine.

Bears Basketball Radio Network - All Missouri State Bears games can be heard on KTXR, Springfield (101.3 FM), the flagship station of the Missouri State Bears Basketball Radio Network. Play-by-play man Art Hains will provide the game description, while former Bears players Mike Keltner (1972-74) and Jeff Ford (1989-90) will provide color commentary throughout the season. Hains first began calling Bears’ action in 1977 and is in his second stint and 28th season overall as the Voice of the Bears. He called Bears games from 1977-81 and returned to that post in 1985. He has now announced 829 Bears’ basketball games in his career.

MSU basketball can also be heard on the 10-station, two-state Missouri State Bears Football Radio Network on the following affiliates: Ava - KKOZ (92.1 FM/1430 AM); El Dorado Springs - KESM (105.5 FM); Jefferson City - KJMO (97.5); Kansas City - KCWJ (1030 AM); Monett - KKBL (95.9 FM); Poplar Bluff - KLID (1340 AM); St. Louis - KSLG (1380 AM or 1490 AM); Sparta, Ill. - WHC) (1230 AM); Springfield - KTXR (101.3 FM) (flagship); Willow Springs - KUKU (100.3 FM).

Podcasts - Missouri State now produces a weekly Podcast, available on the Missouri State Athletics web site -- www.MissouriStateBears.com -- by clicking on the Fan Central icon or the Podcast banner ad. The podcasts will be updated every Tuesday.

 Beginning December 15, the Podcasts will also be available at iTunes.com

Television - The Bears will be featured eight times this season on Mediacom Connections (Channel 14 locally) with Don West providing the play-by-play and Dan Lucy serving as color commentator. The Missouri Cable Sports Network will also show the games throughout Missouri, with the schedule determined by each local Mediacom market.

 Remaining games on this year’s Mediacom Connections slate are: Jan. 18 (at Illinois State), Jan. 28 (at Southern Illinois), Feb. 1 (at Creighton), Feb. 4 (Evansville), Feb. 10 (at Wichita State) and Feb. 17 (at Bradley). The Bears are 1-0 on Mediacom this season.

MSU will be featured on FOX Sports Midwest twice this season -- Jan. 10 (at Northern Iowa) and Feb. 14 (Indiana State), while the Bears will play on two national ESPN telecasts at home Jan. 25 on ESPNU (UNI) and Feb. 7 on ESPN2 (Southern Illinois).

Bears Live! - All games in this year’s Basketball Travelers Tip-Off Tourney will be shown on MSU’s on-line video channel -- Bears Live!

 Bears Live is a new, premium broadband video destination for exclusive live and on-demand Missouri State streaming video & audio content. This broadband video channel is the ultimate place for Bears fans on the web and can be accessed through www.MissouriStateBears.com, the official web site of Missouri State Athletics.

Links to live game stats and the Missouri State Bears Basketball Radio Network free live audio stream can be found on the game notes page for this week’s game on the MSU Athletics Web page -- www.MissouriStateBears.com.

Hobbs Leaves Team - On December 11, freshman guard Derron Hobbs made the decision to end his playing career with the Bears and return to his home in St. Louis at the end of this semester.

 "We wish Derron the best in whatever direction he decides to

go from here," said Missouri State head coach Cuonzo Martin. "This was a decision that he made on his own and for his own reasons."

 Hobbs was hampered by an ankle sprain that forced him to miss the team’s first three regular season games before his return to action on November 28 against Utah. He scored three points in the Utah game with a pair of rebounds and an assist and followed that performance with a five-point outing against Arkansas-Little Rock on December 3. He played, but did not score in his only other game with the team on December 6 against Arkansas State.

 "I appreciate the opportunity that Coach Martin gave me," Hobbs said Thursday afternoon. "Because of some personal circumstances, I have made the decision to move on."

 The six-foot, 145-pound point guard is a product of Gateway Tech High School in St. Louis and did not travel with the team to Tulsa on Wednesday while finalizing his decision.

Reset the Clock - All you need to know about the Bears for tonight’s game in 35 seconds or less . . . Missouri State is coming off a 63-46 win over Central Arkansas (12/13/08) which extended the Bears’ home-court winning streak to three games . . . MSU is averaging just 7.5 turnovers over its last two ball games . . . Wade Knapp (Sr., C, Wakeeney, Kan.) has posted three straight double-figure scoring games, including a career-high 16 at Tulsa (12/10/08), and was a nominee for MVC Player of the Week . . . The Bears are 3-0 on Saturday, 0-0 on Sunday and 1-0 on Monday this season . . . MSU is also 5-1 when leading at the half, dropping only the Utah game which it led 27-26 at the break (11/26/08) . . . If the Bears win Saturday and Sunday, Cuonzo Martin will become the first MSU rookie coach since Mark Bernsen (1992) to go 7-3 in his first 10 games -- Bill Thomas (1964) and Edwin Matthews (1953) also went 7-3 (Thomas was the last coach to start 8-3) . . . The Bears are 2-0 against Sun Belt Conference teams this season with wins over UALR and Arkansas State . . . The Bears are 18-3 over their last 21 home games, including a 4-1 mark at JQH Arena . . . The Bears are 2-1 with eight players in uniform, 2-2 with nine players and 1-0 with 10 . . . Despite a short bench, MSU’s reserves have outscored their opponents in five of eight games and are 4-1 when doing so . . . Spencer Laurie (Sr., G, Springfield, Mo.) needs 1 steal for 100 in his career . . . .

Poll Position - For the first time in their 19-year tenure in the Missouri Valley Conference, the Missouri State men were picked last in the 10-team conference. The Bears return three starters and six lettermen from a 17-16 team a year ago. Since joining the league in 1990-91, the Bears have been picked in the league’s upper division 16 times in the previous 18 preseason polls, as determined by conference coaches, sports information directors, beat writers and broadcasters.

 The only previous lower division predictions for the Bears in the Valley preseason poll were in 1995-96 and 2002-03 when Missouri State was picked eighth. In 1995-96, MSU finished 16-12 overall and 11-7 in the league, tying for fourth place. In 2002-03, the Bears completed a 17-12 season and tied for third (12-6) in the MVC.

 Creighton claimed 36 of the 39 first-place votes in this year’s preseason poll and was tabbed first with 386 points, followed by SIU (322), Illinois State (309), Drake (274), Bradley (219), UNI (186), Indiana State (137), Evansville (122), Wichita State (105), Missouri State (85). Likewise, no Bears were named to the preseason all-conference team.

Bears Basketball Centennial - The 2008-09 season marks the 100th anniversary of Missouri State’s first basketball team in 1908-09. The University did not field teams in 1911-12, 1912-13, 1943-44 or 1944-45 due to World War I and II, making this the 97th season the Bears have hit the hardwood. MSU is the 27th winningest NCAA Division I program, having compiled a 1,494-818 (.646) all-time basketball record. Cuonzo Martin is Missouri State’s 16th head basketball coach.

 Over the previous 10 seasons, the Bears are 191-128 (.599), which ranks 65th among all NCAA Division I schools during that span and third among Missouri Valley Conference schools behind No. 19 Creighton (.710) and No. 26 Southern Illinois (.691).

Court Captains - Seniors Spencer Laurie (G, Springfield, Mo.), Shane Laurie (G, Springfield, Mo.), Chris Cooks (F, Idabel, Okla.) and Wade Knapp (C, Wakeeney, Kan.) will share captain duties for the Bears this season. Spencer Laurie was a co-captain last season as well, making him one of 10 Bears to ever hold the honor of captain for more than one season. Previous multiple-year captains were: Finis Engleman (1914-15), Carl Fox (1927, 29), Gene Ruble (1949-50), Bill Thomas (1952-53), Max Oldham (1956-58), Danny Bolden (1966-67), Jimmy Dull (1977-78), Mark Lance (1981-82), and Danny Moore (1998-99).

Bears in the Final NCAA RPI - Since 1994-95, the Bears have finished in the NCAA Division I upper division in the Final RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) all 14 seasons, including four finishes in the top 40, five finishes in the top 50 and eight stops in the top 100. The Bears own three of the five best RPI’s not to have been selected for an at-large NCAA Tournament berth. MSU had the 21st-best RPI on Selection Sunday when it was snubbed for the Dance in 2005-06 as well as a Tourney exclusion after a No. 34 regular season placement in 1999-2000. The 2006-07 Bears were No. 36 in the NCAA’s power ratings on Selection Sunday. All three teams played in the NIT and were a collective 3-3 in the postseason those years. The 1996-97 Bears were 25-7 in the regular season, ranked No. 42 in the RPI and were also not awarded an NCAA at-large berth. The Bears have five 20-win seasons to their credit in the past 12 seasons and have recorded seven consecutive winning seasons.

Debut of the "Q" - With a $30 million gift from Missouri State alumnus and Springfield-based hotel developer John Q. Hammons, the long-time dream of a new home for the Missouri State Bears and Lady Bears and an iconic tribute to MSU intercollegiate athletics has become a reality. JQH Arena features a seating capacity of 11,000, including 50 courtside seats, 24 suites, PRIME Overtime Club, Hall of Fame and Legacy of Competition exhibits, 114 loge seats, 1,363 reserved student bleacher seats and 9,637 chairback seats.

 The Bears defeated Arkansas, 62-57, before a sellout crowd of 10,881 on November 22, 2008 in the inaugural game at JQH Arena and are now 4-1 in the facility. The first opponent to beat Missouri State in the facility was Utah, 71-58, on November 26, 2008.

Spencer for Hire - Spencer Laurie (Sr., G, Springfield, Mo.) eclipsed the 500-point plateau for his collegiate career against Arkansas on Nov. 22, 2008. Likewise, his 18 points against Utah (11/28/08) put him over the 500-point mark for his Missouri State career. Including 11 points scored during his brief stint at the University of Missouri, Laurie now has 555 career points, and 544 at MSU. He needs 40 points to move into Missouri State’s top 80 all-time scorers.

 He has now scored points in four different home arenas, including his time at Missouri where he played in Hearnes Center and Mizzou Arena in addition to Hammons Student Center and JQH Arena at Missouri State.

 He has 99 career steals and 301 career assists (272 at MSU).

Exhibition Excellence - Five Bears averaged double figures in scoring for Missouri State’s pair of preseason exhibition games this November. MSU defeated Quincy, 79-44, on November 3 before a 103-73 victory over East Central (Okla.) on November 10. Both games were played at Hammons Student Center.

 The Bears were led by Chris Cooks’ (Sr., F, Idabel, Okla.) who averaged 24.5 points per game, including 28 against East Central (Okla.) on November 10, the Bears averaged 91 points as a team and shot 46.4 percent from the field with 8.5 three-pointers per contest. Cardell McFarland (Fr., G, Evansville, Ind.) scored 12 points in his only exhibition appearance, while redshirt freshman Kyle Weems (F, Topeka, Kan.) averaged 11.5 per game in the preseason. Fellow starters Wade Knapp (Sr., C, Wakeeney, Kan.) and Spencer Laurie (Sr., G, Springfield, Mo.) averaged 11 and 10.5 points, respectively. Also, in two exhibition starts, Ryan Jehle (So., F, Overland Park, Kan.) averaged 9 points per game for the Bears.

 MSU surrendered just 58.5 points per game, forced 56 turnovers (28.0), and had a +8.0 rebound margin. The Bears also had 46 assists in the preseason and snagged 29 steals.

Keeping it Under 70 - The Bears are 5-0 this season when holding their opponents under 70 points. Missouri State is tops in the Missouri Valley Conference and 25th in Division I in scoring defense (57.5).

 Only Auburn (75), Utah (71), and Tulsa (70) have scored more than 57 points against the Bears this season. All three were losses for Missouri State.

Mountain West / Missouri Valley Conference Challenge - In October, The Missouri Valley Conference and the Mountain West Conference announced an agreement to the formation of an annual Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge for men’s basketball, potentially beginning in 2009-10. All 19 members of both leagues will participate in the Challenge, which will feature head-to-head competition between nine Mountain West and nine Missouri Valley teams annually.

Ahearn Reassigned to Austin - Missouri State alum Blake Ahearn (2003-07), the most accurate free throw shooter in NCAA Division I history, was assigned November 30 to the Austin Toros. The Toros are the NBA Development League team owned and operated by the San Antonio Spurs and coached by former Missouri coach Quin Snyder, who also coached Spencer Laurie at MU.

 After signing with the Spurs on November 16, Ahearn appeared in three games and averaged 2.7 points in 6.3 minutes. The Spurs were 6-2 after Ahearn joined the team.

 He was the first player called up from the NBA Development League in the 2008-09 season. He was in Minnesota’s 2008 training camp where he averaged 7.8 points and 1.2 assists in five games preseason. After being waived by the Timberwolves he joined the D-League’s Dakota Wizards where he was in camp prior to signing with the Spurs.

 Last year, Ahearn was named Rookie of the Year in the NBA Development League. In 41 games for the Dakota Wizards, he averaged 19.0 points, 3.5 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 29.4 minutes. He shot 49 percent (239-492) from the field, including 108-for-246 from three-point range, and 96 percent (191-199) from the line.

 He was called up to the NBA’s Miami Heat on March 21, 2008, appearing in 12 games and scoring in double figures three times with 70 total points and an amazing 30-for-31 free throw effort.

Looking Back - The Bears finished the 2007-08 season with a 17-16 mark and 8-10 (tie for seventh) record in the Missouri valley Conference. The Bears went 1-1 in the State Farm MVC Tournament before bowling out to Illinois State in the quarterfinals and did not reach the postseason (NIT or NCAA) for just the 12th time in their 26-years at the NCAA Division I level.

 Four seniors and two additional squad members concluded their Missouri State careers in 2007-08. Starters Dale Lamberth (14.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Deven Mitchell (14.3, 6.1) and Drew Richards (7.2, 4.5) along with reserve Dex Manswell (2.3, 3.1) were seniors last season. Mitchell finished his career 19th on the Bears’ all-time scoring list with 1,131 points and became the 27th player in school history to eclipse the 1,000-point plateau. Lamberth finished with 954 points in three seasons at MSU. Also not returning to the team this season are Tomas Brock (1.2, 0.6) and Lamont Austin (0.0, 1.0).

 Former MSU head coach Barry Hinson (1999-2008) finished his nine-year tenure with a 169-117 (.591) record overall and 95-67 (.586) mark in MVC play. Hinson is currently serving as administrative assistant for coach Bill Self at Kansas.

Looking Ahead - On November 12, Missouri State announced the receipt of National Letters of Intent from two men’s basketball prospects for the 2009-10 season. High school seniors Jerome Jones (6-5, 201, F, St. Louis, Mo., Miller Career Academy) and Keith Pickens (6-4, 190, SG, St. Louis, Mo., Oakville High) have both signed letters of intent and announced their intentions to play for coach Cuonzo Martin’s Bears next season.

 Jones averaged 17.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as a junior in 2007-08 at Miller Career Academy in St. Louis. He was an all-conference and second team all-state performer as a junior, while earning Post-Dispatch honorable mention all-metro distinction. He is regarded as one of the top athletes in St. Louis this season. As a sophomore, he averaged 13.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game and was invited to the Nike Top 100 Hoop Jamboree. He has also been a key player for the St. Louis Eagles AAU team.

 Pickens averaged 13.0 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Oakville High School Tigers last season, also accounting for 2.3 blocks and 1.7 assists per game and making 37 percent of his three-pointers. As a sophomore, he averaged 7.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest. He is regarded as a great leaper, scorer and rebounder and drove up his stock over the summer with his performance on the Rameybasketball.com squad.

Creekmore Debut - Will Creekmore (6-9, 242, C, Tulsa, Okla.) will become eligible to compete for Missouri State on Saturday, December 20 at the conclusion of the first semester. He transferred to MSU during the spring 2008 semester from Boston University.

 The sophomore saw action in four games as a freshman for the America East Conference school, collecting 11 points and 10 rebounds and making good on 83-percent of his free throws. He averaged 23.0 points, 17 rebounds and 3 blocks per game as a senior at Thomas Edison High in Tulsa in 2006-07 where he had a 4.0+ grade point average.

Back for More - Bears’ guard Spencer Laurie (Springfield, Mo.) returns for a fourth season with the Missouri State squad this season after being granted an additional year of eligibility under the NCAA waiver. The NCAA ruled this fall that due to the injury and personal circumstances during and following his second season at the University of Missouri (2004-05), he would be eligible for a fourth season of college basketball. After playing in 21 games as a true freshman at Missouri in 2003-04, he was injured after just 7 games in 2004-05. The injury coincided with a family emergency, which ultimately led to his transfer to Missouri State in his hometown of Springfield. He spent the 2005-06 season in residence at MSU after the transfer and became eligible for the Bears in 2006-07 -- his second full college season. He also played for MSU in 2007-08, originally thought to be his final season. He joins younger brother Shane and junior Justin Fuehrmeyer (G, St. Charles, Mo.) as the team’s three returning starters.

Dunk-O-Meter - Through eight games this season, the Bears have six dunks to their credit as follows:

Wade Knapp 4

Isaiah Rhine 2

Kyle Weems 1

 MSU opponents now have 15 dunks. Auburn had 5 dunks in the season opener, while Arkansas State had four slams against the Bears at JQH. Likewise, MSU opponents have outscored the Bears, 164-138, in the paint this season.

Coors Players of the Week - The Missouri State Coors Player of the Week for the week of December 1-6 is Wade Knapp (6-8, 221, Sr., F/C, Wakeeney, Kan.).

 Knapp has posted career highs in scoring in two of the Bears’ last three games, helping MSU to a 2-1 record in those contests with 15, 16, and 14 points respectively. In just eight games this season, Knapp has already surpassed his season scoring total from 2007-08, in which he played 31 games.

 He posted a career-best 16 points at Tulsa with most of his points coming against seven-foot all-Conference USA standout Jerome Jordan. Knapp’s point total at Tulsa was second only to freshman Kyle Weem’s career-high 18 points in the game, and his 14 points in MSU’s win over Central Arkansas was a team high.

 He was 10-for-16 from the field this week and 16-for-23 in the team’s last three games. He also accounted for eight rebounds and two blocks this week while shooting 10-for-15 from the free throw line. The Bears’ center has played in 39 consecutive games, including seven straight starts, without fouling out.

 November 10-16 - Chris Cooks (Sr., F, Idabel, Okla.)

 November 17-23 - Kyle Weems (Fr., F, Topeka, Kan.)

 November 24-30 - Spencer Laurie (Sr., G, Springfield, Mo.)

 December 1-6 - Ryan Jehle (So., F, Overland Park, Kan.)

 December 7-13 - Wade Knapp (Sr., C, Wakeeney, Kan.)

Early RPI - The Bears began the week ranked No. 57 among 343 NCAA Division I schools in the latest RealTimeRPI.com and CollegeRPI.com rankings.

 Rankings for the other Basketball Travlers Tip-Off Tourney participants are: Middle Tennesse (304), UC-Irvine (293) and Norfolk State (228).

Waiting in the Wings - Missouri State will welcome two Division I transfers to the program this year with the addition of former Eastern Kentucky standout Adam Leonard (6-0, 188, G, Lee’s Summit, Mo.) and Colorado product Caleb Patterson (7-0, 230, C, Ringwood, Okla.). Both players will be ineligible during the 2008-09 season. Leonard will have two remaining years of eligibility, and Patterson will be able to play three years for the Bears.

 Patterson played 14 games for the Buffaloes last season, gaining one start and scoring 20 total points.

 Leonard was a two-year starter for the Colonels where he helped EKU to the 2007 NCAA Tournament after accounting for 104 three-pointers his freshman season. He averaged 12.5 and 11.9 points, respectively, in his two seasons at EKU.

Up Next . . . Missouri State begins Missouri Valley Conference play against undefeated Illinois State on Sunday, December 28 at 2:05 p.m. as the Bears conclude their current five-game home stand.