Dec. 23, 2011

LAS VEGAS -- St. Mary's has scored 24 points in the paint and out-rebounded Missouri State by five to take a narrow 33-29 lead into the intermission here in the final game of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic at the Orleans Arena.

Caleb Patterson has 14 points to lead all scorers, while Jarmar Gulley has contributed six for the Bears.

Brad Waldow scored the Gaels' first eight points and helped the West Coast Conference club take command early. Gulley brought MSU back with a pair of mid-range jumpers to make it 10-6 a minute later, but an unconventional three-point jumper by Matthew Dellavedova and a bulleying run to the rack by Kenton Walker pushed St. Mary's ahead 15-6.

The Bears reeled off the game's next seven points to draw within 15-13 after a drive by Corey Copeland, a three-pointer by Patterson and a quick bucket in transition by Patterson made it a two-point game at the 10:39 mark.

St. Mary's again gambled big with the long-range shot and knocked down a pair of treys over the next two minutes to broaden the gap 21-13.

The Gaels later opened up a 27-17 advantage with 5:54 to go in the opening stanza before a tough-angle jumper by Patterson showed signs of life for MSU, and a traditional three-point play by Christian Kirk at the 4:14 mark kept it rolling. Kyle Weems then made it closer with a fade-away jumper to make it 27-24 at the 2:55 mark.

St. Mary's would score three of the next four field goals to retake a seven-point lead, and a Patterson three-pointer just before the intermission made it a 33-29 contest at the break.

MSU is 13-for-28 (.464) from the field and 2-of-8 (.250) from long range. The Bears have made their only free throw attempt and have been out-rebounded by an 18-13 margin.

St. Mary's is an even 15-for-30 (.500) with 3-of-5 (.600) from beyond the arc. Waldow has 10 points to lead SMC, while Dellavedova has seven, and Rob Jones has five rebounds.