Dec. 10, 2011
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Missouri State has shot 56 percent from the field in the opening half and collected 11 points from Caleb Patterson to lead Arkansas-Little Rock, 29-22, at the intermission at the Jack Stephens Center here.
The Bears scored the game's first bucket on a pull-up by Kyle Weems, but then went five minutes without a field goal, falling behind 10-2 before an Anthony Downing floater at the 13:01 mark.
A three-pointer by UALR's Will Neighbour with 12:30 remaining in the first period put the Trojans up 13-4 before MSU began mounting a solid comeback midway through the half. A traditional three-point play by Isaiah Rhine got the Bears rolling on an 18-5 run that included three-pointers by Patterson, Anthony Downing and Jarmar Gulley to put MSU ahed 22-18 with just under seven minutes to go in the period.
Patterson would score four of MSU's next eight points before the intermission as the Bears pushed ahead 29-22 at the break.
Neighbour finished the half 5-of-7 for 13 points to lead the Trojans who were 9-for-25(.360) overall from the field with three treys -- all by the 6-foot-10 sophomore transfer.
Missouri State, which is looking to end a three-game losing streak, shot 10-of-18 (.556) in the opening half, including 3-of-5 (.600) from long distance and 6-of-8 (.750) at the line. MSU out-rebounded the defending Sun Belt Conference Tournament champions by a 15-11 margin. The Bears turned the ball over just five times, compared to three by UALR.
The game is being televised live on KY-3 in Springfield.
