CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – A three-pointer by
Kyle Weems with 2.5 seconds remaining lifted the Missouri State Bears (9-3) past defending Missouri Valley Conference champion Northern Iowa here Wednesday, 58-57, in the league opener for both clubs.
Weems' string of four straight 20-point scoring efforts was snapped, but he surpassed 1,000 career points in his 79th game and finished with 12 points overall.
The Bears' win also snapped a 21-game home winning streak by UNI (9-4), the sixth-longest in Division I.
The outcome seemed unlikely down the stretch with the Bears trailing by six, 52-46, with 3:38 to play after a pair of free throws by Kwadzo Ahelegbe. He finished with a game-high 25 points, also went over the 1,000-point plateau, and accounted for 11 of UNI's final 14 points.
After Ahelegbe's free throws, the Bears answered with a short jumper by Weems from the right wing to make it a four-point game, and then cut into the deficit one more time on a Weems free throw at 2:19. The Bears who knocked seven treys on the night, then got the game-tying shot from
Adam Leonard at the 1:40 mark to knot the game, 52-52.
The score remained tied until 42.2 seconds remained when Ahelegbe knocked down two more of his nine free throws to make it 54-52 UNI. MSU fought back again on a traditional three-point play by
Will Creekmore moments later to give MSU a 55-54 advantage with 29 seconds to go.
But, the defending champs would not got down without a fight, and Johnny Moran, whose half-court three before the half gave UNI a 28-22 lead at the intermission, found his mark from the right wing to give the home squad a 57-55 lead on a three-pointer with just under 12 ticks remaining.
In the final moments, the Bears drove the floor and found Weems on the left wing. His shot fake opened up a wide-open three-point attempt which he drained from well beyond the arc to give MSU the win.
A last-second three-point attempt by UNI's Anthony James bounced off the rim as the final horn sounded.
Jermaine Mallett, who had 12 points in the first half, led MSU with 14, while Leonard added 11 to round out three Bears in double figures. MSU out-rebounded UNI, 38-27, and committed just 13 turnovers.
MSU was 22-for-57 (.386) from the field and 7-for-22 (.318) beyond the arc, while making 7-of-11 (.636) free throws.
UNI, which shot 11 more free throws than the Bears, finished at .409 (18-for-44) from the field, 4-for-14 (.286) from beyond the arc and 17-for-22 (.773) at the line. Moran (15) and Lucas O'Rear (10) were also in double figures for UNI along with Ahelegbe.
The Bears continue Valley play Saturday at JQH Arena when they take on Illinois State (8-4, 0-1) at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available by calling (417) 836-7678 or on-line at www.MissouriStateTix.com.
