Kyle Weems has a game-high 13 points, and Jermaine Mallett has scored 10 to pace Missouri State to a 43-28 halftime lead over Arkansas State at JQH Arena in the Bears' final home non-conference game of the year.
MSU (7-3) fell behind 3-0 early on a traditional three-point play by Martavius Adams just over a minute into the contest. Adams finished the first half with a team-high 12 points for the Red Wolves.
The Bears then reeled off six straight points on three-pointers by Weems and Adam Leonard. Arkansas State tied the game twice more before the first media timeout, but Missouri State pulled away over the next five minutes.
Aaron Cooper knocked down a three-pointer for his first points as a Bear at the 14:07 mark before a jumper by Mallett and back-to-back baskets by Caleb Patterson gave MSU a 19-10 lead with just under 11 minutes to go in the half.
From there, the Bears built their advantage to as many as 17 points, collecting 18 first-half points off of 11 ASU turnovers.
The Bears are 19-for-38 (.500) from the field in the first half, with five three-pointers. MSU missed both of its free throw attempts and out-rebounded the Red Wolves by an 18-10 margin.
A-State was 12-for-20 (.600) from the field, missed its only three-point attempt, and was 4-for-5 (.800) at the line. The Red Wolves forced just four MSU turnovers in the first stanza while blocking five shots.
The Bears are looking for their 15th straight home victory, which would tie the second-longest home streak of their Division I era (1982-83 to present).
