Dec. 28, 2011

OMAHA, Neb. -- Missouri State has overcome a hot-shooting Creighton club that has connected on 75 percent of its three-point shots in the first half, and trail the No. 19 Bluejays, 34-32, at the intermission here.

The Bears jumped out to a 14-8 lead in the first five-and-a-half minutes as Anthony Downing reeled off nine of his 11 points in that span to set the pace.

Creighton responded with four treys in the span of two-and-a-half minutes after the under-12 media timeout to climb ahead 20-16, before a bucket by Antoine Young and a dunk by Gregory Echenique prompted a timeout by the Bears with a 24-16 deficit.

However, from there, Jarmar Gulley stormed the Bears back with a traditional three-point play, to cut the Bluejays lead to five.

In the final four minutes of the first half, MSU used four steals to climb back within two at the break as Gulley, Downing, Michael Bizoukas and Kyle Weems all scored in transition down the stretch.

MSU was 13-for-31 (.419) from the field in the first half, but just 1-for-9 (.111) from bonus distance. The Bears made all five free throw attempts, but were out-rebounded 19-14 and committed only three turnovers.

Downing has 11 points to lead MSU, while Gulley has scored 10, and Weems has 6.

Creighton was led by Young with 8 points and was 11-for-25 (.440) from the field and 6-of-8 (.750) from three-point range. CU was also 6-for-8 at the line with 8 turnovers.

This is the MVC opener for both clubs.