SPRINGFIELD -- In a first half with 12 lead changes, the Missouri State Bears hold a 34-31 halftime lead over visiting Middle Tennessee in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament first round game here.
The Bears fell behind 9-6 in the early going behind a jumper by Trevor Ottley, but stormed back with a surge 11 minutes in. A jumper by Jermaine Mallett gave the Bears a 17-16 lead with 8:23 to go in the half. Adam Leonard then got a short floater to fall 25 seconds later, and the Bears forced a turnover that led to a break-away dunk by Keith Pickens moments later to give MSU a 21-16 advantage.
The Bears led by five on four other occassions in the first half, most-recently on a three-pointer by Will Creekmore with 1:26 on the clock to put MSU on top 34-29. However, Middle Tennessee score the final bucket of the half to make it a 34-31 game.
Both teams shot the ball well in the first 20 minutes with the Blue Raiders knocking down 13-of-24 (.542) shots, while the Bears were 14-of-26 (.538). MTSU holds a 13-11 rebounding edge, while MSU has turned the ball over just 6 times compared to 8 for Middle Tennessee.
The Bears were led by Pickens and Mallett with 6 points, while Desmond Yates has 9 at the break for the Blue Raiders
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